Ice warning for North Devon drivers
MOTORISTS in North Devon are being warned of possible icy roads overnight and early tomorrow morning.
Devon County Council is preparing to salt the entire network for the first time this winter.
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Temperatures are forecast to drop as low as -3C on Dartmoor and the rest of Devon will plummet below freezing.
The concern is that following heavy rain over the weekend there may still be some surface water on the roads.
If that becomes icy then driving conditions could become treacherous, especially on untreated routes.
Devon County Council's gritters will be out across the county from 6pm this evening, treating around 1,650 miles on all of the county's 48 salting routes.
Further inspections will be carried out early tomorrow morning.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "After the torrential rain we've just had, ice could become a problem in some areas. This is the first real cold snap we've had this winter so it's worth remembering that even on roads that have been salted, ice can still form. I would urge motorists driving overnight and tomorrow morning to take care."
10 Comments
by Darren Maidment, Braunton young father
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 3:20PM
“I belive that the wind maybe a contributing factor in stopping distance but tyre wear contributes more. Only this morning i discovered that the low tyre wear on my baby's pram caused an extra 3m in stopping distance outside the pub. That meant that i had to take a full 4 strides back to enter the pub. Situations such as these are just un-economical and should be dealt with.”
by Dave Hutchings, Pilton massive
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 3:06PM
“"At 70mph the overall stopping distance could be 960 mtrs or 3150 ft!" WOW russell what a fact! doesnt that depend on the wind direction gradient of the road and how many drinks you've had the night before?”
by Jim, Bid
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 7:16PM
“Bret o and Dave Channel.
Why can't you comment on the story and stop trying to belittle people. Just shows your ignorance.
And Russel is right, speed linked to idiot driving does lead to accidents, particularly on the link road.”
by Dave Channel, Sky
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 3:57PM
“Shame on you Bret. Russell has been waiting all year to come out with the only statistic he knows and you've gone and ruined his moment of glory. You've increased his chance of suicide or self harm by at least 10 times! That means 5 razor blades or 48 sleeping pills!”
by Russell, Plympton
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 3:52PM
“I think you would find people do care Bret, especially when lots of people die in road accidents in the winter, probably down to p*ats like you on the road!”
by Bret O, Devon
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 1:00PM
“No one cares Russell”
by Russell, Plympton
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 12:27PM
“Remember everyone that stopping distances in the Ice can increase by up to 10 times. That means at 70mph the overall stopping distance could be 960 mtrs or 3150 ft!”
by Darren M, Somewhere
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 12:02PM
“There was grit on the linkraod (A361) as I did it last night M5 to bidiford in both directions.”
by belly, bideford
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 11:43AM
“Idrove back from Tiverton on the A361 at 3 am this morning definitely no grit on the road.”
by billie, N Devon
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 8:36AM
“I note the council are "preparing" and in the news this morning there have already been a spate of accidents. So how come my other half, who left for work at midnight from North Devon, drove into Cornwall, then picked up his lorry and went up the A30-M5 & M4 hasn't seen one single gritter????”