Snow and the roads of Northern England and Scotland

[fatboy18]

Every year we hear of people not being able to go about there daily lives due to our roads covered in snow.
The media picks up on it and you hear of people being put up in hostels or halls, schools being closed etc.

So why year on year are people prepared to put up with it? The cost to business must be huge!

Well I sat here thinking surely there must be a better way forward. In Europe within mountain areas it is compulsory to have Snow chains or winter tyres. You hardly ever hear people moaning about deep snow in Canada, Austria, Switzerland etc they just get on with it. Residents purchase there own snow clearing devices and I believe its law in some country's for you to clear your own section of pathway in front of your house. People here just don't seem to be prepared? Why not bring in a Law to make it so here that you should have winter tyres etc, minimum snow chains or socks.

The local councils can only do so much, surely its time for Government to implement some kind of Winter rules for driving?
What do you think?

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 29th November 18:57

[Escort2dr]

Yes.

[BonzoG]

Absolutely. I havn't been physically stuck due to snow anywhere today - and I'm not exactly driving a Defender!

I have however been caught in multiple jams by ill equipped folk with no idea how to get up a snowy hill or move off in the snow, etc etc the list goes on.


Edit: And just to illustrate the point, this was the comical route I had to take to get from Bellshill to Barnton today. M8 stationary from Newhouse to Hermiston because of accidents, adjacent roads backed up, a jacknifed lorry just outside of Breich, and folk stuck blocking the northern road out of Forth. I had a clear run all the way to Balerno, but what a detour!

Edited by BonzoG on Monday 29th November 19:38

[Silver993tt]

It won't happen in the UK because no one wants to "be dictated to" and each individual knows best

I'm all for mandatory winter tyres between November & March, once brought in and after the initial resistance by those who know best of course, it will be accepted as the norm.

[Biker's Nemesis]

I make sure I wear an extra t shirt and have plenty of cigarettes in case I get stuck.

[fatboy18]

Here's how some people cope with it
3-4" of wet heavy stuff here last night....snowing a little now. We typically get 200-300" per year. I think the record here is 320" ....happened 7-8 years ago. 2-3 feet of snow at a crack are not uncommon and barely cause a blip in everyday activity here. Schools may shut down (buses / liability mainly), but not much else. It's just another day in the life. A 12HP/36" cut 1990 Ariens snowblower takes care of this white annoyance in fine fashion!

[dvance]

Noticed that some of you have some recent experience commuting on out of city roads in Scotland. So how are the roads? I am thinking of driving up to Cairngorm on the weekend for some snowboarding, and was wondering if I am nuts for doing that or I will be fine? I have 4 Conti WinterContacts in reasonable conditions on my car ATM, FWD, with the nowadays standard ESP and ABS, and a couple of years experience (mountain resorts etc) driving in the snow.

[JM]

Where are you leaving from?

The main roads are usually clear, exception being sometimes the A9 at Drumochter summit, but that usually opens quite quickly.

You may find though that the access road to Cairngorm will be shut, but the best place to check that is their website.

I've travelled up from Edinburgh, no problem, to then face grid-lock around Loch Morlich/Glenmore, due to the ski-road still being cleared and cars trying to turn and getting stuck, or just being abandoned and people heading for the cafe etc.

[Hugo a Gogo]

you don't hear about it every year though, do you?

occasionally a couple of roads will be closed for a while, the A66 or similar, very occasionally some stranded drivers will be put up for the night

other than that, people get on with it

[dvance]

Yeah, I am traveling up from Edinburgh. The access road's been open for the last few days or so their website claims

[Silver993tt]

Hugo a Gogo said:

you don't hear about it every year though, do you?

occasionally a couple of roads will be closed for a while, the A66 or similar, very occasionally some stranded drivers will be put up for the night

other than that, people get on with it

That's becuase it impact far fewer people and far less of the economy, both of which are worthy news items.

[Procharmo]

I drive a slammed Porsche and am the only one on my road who has cleared their driveway. I guess it's because most cars have a 4" or more ground clearance and can get away with it......LOL!

Cat litter, table salt, a shovel, a broom and 10 mins of hard work.

[evolution666]

ive not even attempted t drive in it since it got bad outside mine. I live at the bottom of a big hill which is the only way out. Dont have snow tyres on my 540i and did manage to get out, that was until the hamsters in the street thought it would be far easier to clear the tracks where people actually drive and to pile the snow up feet deep just anywhere on the side of the road.

if these people had only put there brains in gear before there shovels, i would still have an engine undertray on my car,