Highways Agency advice to drivers as more snow is forecast

The Highways Agency is warning road users to expect difficult driving conditions in the next 24 hours, as the Met Office forecasts more snowfall for some areas this evening and overnight.

The Met Office are warning of heavy snow expected in parts of the East of England, East Midlands, South West England, the South East and the West Midlands from mid-afternoon today, and continuing into the morning peak travel period. Heavy snow is also forecast for parts of North West England this afternoon.

A band of rain and sleet is expected to extend north-eastwards during the afternoon and evening. This is will turn increasingly to snow as it spreads northwards across many southern and eastern parts of England this afternoon and tonight. There Met Office say there could be accumulations of 2 to 5 cm of fresh snow in some areas, with up to 10 cm possible in places, especially on higher ground.

The Highways Agency is ready for cold weather this winter. Our salt spreaders and snow ploughs have been working in those areas affected by the weather so far - mainly routes in the North East, East and South East of England. Our fleet will continue to operate for as the long as the cold weather continues.

Road users have a part to play too. Even when roads have been treated it is important to drive appropriately for the conditions. Not every journey is essential in severe weather, and we know from research we have carried out that sometimes people head out without taking steps to avoid being caught out.

The majority of the Agency's motorways and major A roads have remained fully open, and where incidents did occur we worked, where necessary, with the emergency services to reopen the roads as quickly as possible. Our Traffic Officers are also patrolling motorways across the country to clear incidents quickly and safely and to help road users in trouble.

We are constantly monitoring the weather conditions and will issue further advice to road users should it prove appropriate during this spell of severe weather.

We advise drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles; and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions and plan their journeys by using our website, listening to DAB digital ‘Traffic Radio' or local radio stations, or by calling our information line (08457 50 40 30).

Posted Monday December 21^st 2009
By Highways Agency