Snow - Clear driveway but not pavement? WHY?

[Sir Bagalot]

So we have some snow.... People quite happy to get the shovel out and clear their driveway, some even clear the snow from the pavement from their driveway to the road... But why do so few people clear the pavement the entire width of their property?!?

It really isn't that much effort and makes walking so much easier

[David87]

Dunno. I haven't done any shovelling because 1) I don't own a shovel and 2) I was too busy sliding about in the car to care.

[P I Staker]

Gaz. said:

Because they aren't driving along a pavement?

How many pedestrians do you see over steering into a hedge because of snow? It would be time wasted.

[stuartmmcfc]

I cleared my pavement outside my house and put salt down (we live in a vilage)
I've heard lots of people say that if anyone slipped on this cleared area then they could sue me.
However i heard and read lots about this subject last year from various legal experts on the radio, telly and papers and they all said this was just a myth and no court would be able to uphold it.

[Chicane-UK]

Bizarrely it is law in Germany.. I think you are responsible for the pavement outside your house and if you fail to grit it, and someone falls and hurts themselves, you can get royally screwed for it! Thankfully we don't have such a stupid law here!

[TaRD]

Cleared mine, only one in my street too do it.

[Alfanatic]

Cleared mine, as did our neighbour. Well, one of them, anyway. Easy enough with a flat pavement and a snow shovel, I wouldn't have bothered without the snow shovel though. Trying to do it with a garden spade is more painful than falling over on the stuff. Almost.

Can't see how someone could sue me because they slipped on some ice in freezing, snowy conditions.... it's not like I can control what ice gets tracked there by pavement traffic after I've cleaned it anyway so can't even say I left the ice there in the first place..

[essayer]

Sir Bagalot said:

So we have some snow.... People quite happy to get the shovel out and clear their driveway, some even clear the snow from the pavement from their driveway to the road... But why do so few people clear the pavement the entire width of their property?!?

It really isn't that much effort and makes walking so much easier

Probably worried about getting sued

[treehack]

I went for a wander to the shops earlier and most of the people who had cleared their drive just piled it on the pavement.
My nieghbour did the same and there is a 2' deep pile either side of thier drive. fkin halfwits.

[Podie]

essayer said:

Sir Bagalot said:

So we have some snow.... People quite happy to get the shovel out and clear their driveway, some even clear the snow from the pavement from their driveway to the road... But why do so few people clear the pavement the entire width of their property?!?

It really isn't that much effort and makes walking so much easier

Probably worried about getting sued

This. You clear the snow, someone slips and then you have the ambulance chasers after you.

[stuartmmcfc]

Has this ever happened?
Apparently not up to last winter.

[Lordbenny]

I dont walk on the pavement outside my house so why the fk should I do the council's job for them?

[B Huey]

What's the point?

I live over the road from a primary school, a care in the community centre and an old people's home.

Who's going to clear the snow from outside their places?

[Podie]

stuartmmcfc said:

Has this ever happened?
Apparently not up to last winter.

No pavement outside my house

[SEE YA]

This is one example of people today, 'It's sod you jack I am alright'

If there is nothing in it for me, then why should I do it .

Does it hurt for people to clear the path, outside there house if they can.

[matthias73]

Chicane-UK said:

Bizarrely it is law in Germany.. I think you are responsible for the pavement outside your house and if you fail to grit it, and someone falls and hurts themselves, you can get royally screwed for it! Thankfully we don't have such a stupid law here!

I suspect you have never been to germany. My family live in a rural village, and everyone clears the area in front of their houses, or to the point of the next house if there is a gap. The result is that the pavements are clear, and that means that the older people of the village, and there are quite a lot, can function normally. My grandparents are by themselves sometimes and their neighbors shovel their bit as well. Without this, they would be stuck indoors all day, or have to drive everywhere, but bear in mind that being dependant on a car isn't great either.

Furthermore, the law that means you need winter tyres works great as well.

The other bennefits of this law are greater social responsibilities, more of a sense of community and people getting the chance to help others.

[Podie]

SEE YA said:

This is one example of people today, 'It's sod you jack I am alright'

If there is nothing in it for me, then why should I do it .

Does it hurt for people to clear the path, outside there house if they can.

All our neighbours were out clearing their drives today. There are a couple of elderly people around, so we all chipped in and cleared and gritted their drives too, so they can get their cars out if needed.

Community spirit alive and well around here.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Podie said:

SEE YA said:

This is one example of people today, 'It's sod you jack I am alright'

If there is nothing in it for me, then why should I do it .

Does it hurt for people to clear the path, outside there house if they can.

All our neighbours were out clearing their drives today. There are a couple of elderly people around, so we all chipped in and cleared and gritted their drives too, so they can get their cars out if needed.

Community spirit alive and well around here.

Stepford citizens.

[Chrisgr31]

Podie said:

essayer said:

Sir Bagalot said:

So we have some snow.... People quite happy to get the shovel out and clear their driveway, some even clear the snow from the pavement from their driveway to the road... But why do so few people clear the pavement the entire width of their property?!?

It really isn't that much effort and makes walking so much easier

Probably worried about getting sued

This. You clear the snow, someone slips and then you have the ambulance chasers after you.

And fortunately it wont happen, well not unless you are negligent in clearing the show. So if you cpear the snow and then put grit/salt down you'll be fine. If on the other hand you clear the snow and then use a hosepipe to wash away the residue and the result is sheet ice everywhere you may be liable.

I didnt clear the pavement outside my house because for a start my wifes car is parked on it! However the reality is as I am on a turning circle at the bottom of a cul de sac no one walks on the pavement. Did however clear part of the turning circle, even though I could have taken the same approach as my neighbour that "I have a 4x4 so am all right jack".

A neighbour further up the estate road had cleared a large part of it so i gritted the areas he had cleared and helped him with the essential corner.

In a road with about 30 houses only 6 helped do any clearance.

[Chicane-UK]

matthias73 said:

I suspect you have never been to germany. My family live in a rural village, and everyone clears the area in front of their houses, or to the point of the next house if there is a gap. The result is that the pavements are clear, and that means that the older people of the village, and there are quite a lot, can function normally. My grandparents are by themselves sometimes and their neighbors shovel their bit as well. Without this, they would be stuck indoors all day, or have to drive everywhere, but bear in mind that being dependant on a car isn't great either.

Furthermore, the law that means you need winter tyres works great as well.

The other bennefits of this law are greater social responsibilities, more of a sense of community and people getting the chance to help others.

All fair points, well made. But I have been to Germany. In fact I was born there and drive over there at least once a year and have done since 2006. I guess I'm so brainwashed to the general level of selfishness that goes on over here!