Snow !

[gazzae]

Originally Posted by martyh

problem is though the salt doesn't work under -6-7 and it needs a regular traffic flow for the salt to be effective .If as you say that the roads have already iced up then the salt will not be anywhere as effective

What do countries where it gets significantly colder that -6/-7 use on their roads?

I saw down in our village today they had a pavement snow plough.Very nifty.

Pity they didn't get out and do ALL the pavements..Especially as I went arse over tits on my way home..

Originally Posted by gazzae

What do countries where it gets significantly colder that -6/-7 use on their roads?

Germany doesn't use salt - they just clear the roads and/or use winter tyres.

The Law Regarding Snow Tires
In November 2010, responding to the court’s decision, the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, passed a new federal law that is much more specific about winter tires. It also doubles the fines for drivers caught without snow tires or who have an accident in winter conditions without snow tires on their vehicle.

Von O bis O
Most German motorists have long known the old rule of thumb for putting snow tires on the car: “von O bis O.� The term “from O to O� is short for “from October to Easter� (von Oktober bis Ostern). It is a recommendation that one should make the change from regular tires to snow tires in October, and leave them on until Easter.

[sherer]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Germany doesn't use salt - they just clear the roads and/or use winter tyres.

The problem is other countries get this weather all the time and so can prepare for it. For us this is once every few years are sometimes 10 years hence we aren't always equiped to cope with it

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Germany doesn't use salt - they just clear the roads and/or use winter tyres.

That was an interesting read, maybe it should be passed here in the UK although our weather is not normally as severe as it has been, it could be a regional law where it wouldn't be needed in say Cornwall but in the north mandatory.

[Hom3r]

According to the news Essex has had it bad today. (20cm)

I live in Essex and the snow is only 5cm outside my house. Perhaps it will change again overnight.

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

According to the news Essex has had it bad today. (20cm)

I live in Essex and the snow is only 5cm outside my house. Perhaps it will change again overnight.

When I were a young man living in Essex (Thurrock for my sins)
Feb 1987 was the worse snowfall I have ever encountered, well that & the A12 in 1982.

It does happen, you just need to be in the right part

[DocDutch]

the problem with snow tyres is that they have hardened grooves which will damage the road surface so councils aren't really happy with them. Saying that in holland where the climate is same as here normally you need to have winter tyres as well

[Arthurgray50@blu]

WHY, why does London come to a grinding halt when bad weather hits, each year we have the Highways agency, alway comes out with some old crap, and yet we get stuck with Airports closed, trains not running, shops running out of grub, and yet other countries that have this all the time, it doesn't effect them, are we losing our marbles or is the whole depart that runs our roads etc gone stupid and thick.

[Gary L]

If we had a WW3. they'd just need to drop a bit of snow on us and wait a few days for us to surrender.

If only you were in charge, Arthur, all would be right in the world.......

Other countries have this every year, which is why they are prepared for it - we only have it occasionally.

A question - do you have winter tyres or snow chains for your car? If not, you are just as guilty as those you castigate for lack of preparation.

It's only a bit of snow - get over it......

(it won't be long before you blame Maggie for the snow* )


* hat-tip to m (you know who you are )

[Acathla]

I thought putting chains on your tyres is illegal on UK roads due to the damage they would cause?

Winter tyres are a different matter but who can seriously afford a set of tyres sitting waiting for the snow? I guess if you are at high risk of isolation then it may be worth it.

Originally Posted by Hugh

If only you were in charge, Arthur, all would be right in the world.......

Other countries have this every year, which is why they are prepared for it - we only have it occasionally.

A question - do you have winter tyres or snow chains for your car? If not, you are just as guilty as those you castigate for lack of preparation.

It's only a bit of snow - get over it......

(it won't be long before you blame Maggie for the snow* )


* hat-tip to m (you know who you are )

I remember being impressed when I first went to Norway, the night I arrived they had significant snowfall - the driver who picked me up in the morning apologised that there would be a delay while he got studded tyres fitted.

The snow ploughs on the main roads left a significant compacted layer of snow/ice behind so that studded tyres would work without ripping up the tarmac.

We were able to travel at about 50mph with no problems using the studded tyres.

- this wouldn't be practical in the uk - people expect roads to be cleared down to the tarmac & then salted/gritted for their tyres to work.

Even using 'winter' tyres could be a problem - the compound & tread depth/pattern means that these tyres will either wear out very quickly, or possibly damage the road, depending on conditions.

- people won't invest the money to have access to all the solutions possibly required for an occasional snow shower - hence the chaos when we get one.

The only thing I have thought about is whether to try some snow 'socks' for my car - they may have got me through the foot deep snow in my cul de sac, this morning - as it is I'm hoping the couple of hours with a shovel will have been worth it

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by sherer

The problem is other countries get this weather all the time and so can prepare for it. For us this is once every few years are sometimes 10 years hence we aren't always equiped to cope with it

Even though we don't get snow that regularly, we do get ice most winters..

[DocDutch]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Even though we don't get snow that regularly, we do get ice most winters..

well we have had this now for the last 3 years ... and okay this is the 1st time this early in November and December.