National Highways says it is keen to broadcast the message not only due to the snowy weather that appears to be on the way, but also as part of its blind spot awareness campaign.
Darren Clark, Severe Weather Resilience Manager at National Highways, said:
“If you are going to pass us, please do so courteously, pass us safely and legally, or even better, if you are able to stay back, you will actually help the salt on the road activate even more quickly by crushing and breaking it into the road surface which benefits everyone. It’s worth remembering too, we are not gritting all the time. Some of our fleet may come off at particular junctions or return to depots while other vehicles take over, lowering any inconvenience to motorists. We are once again totally committed to working around the clock on these seasonal operations to keep all road users safe and thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.”
National Highways says its gritters have been going out whenever needed during the winter season and that its teams across the country have been monitoring the Met Office weather forecasts, along with regular road weather forecasts from meteorological experts MetDesk.
Clark added:
“Not all roads will need treating on any given day. Gritters may need to go out in some regions if road temperatures are expected to fall below +1 degrees C, and if there is a risk of ice forming, but not in other areas if conditions are not as cold. National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated – whenever it is needed. We are armed with the latest technology, forecasting intelligence and years of experience to help us make informed decisions about where and when we need to spread salt to help keep road users safe in even the most adverse weather conditions.”