Been four hours stuck in snow in kent

[Stuckinsnowinkent]

We have been stuck in Chatham now for four hours. Got about 7 miles maybe? Think we will be stuck in the car overnight now.

It snowed about 3-4 inches in one hour.

Really feel for you, worked down there for a while and the snow just comes out of nowhere. Luckily I was staying in the premier inn and a colleague dropped me home in their 4x4. Stay safe and hope you get home soon.

Meant to say I got stuck in inches of it, so scary and it turned horrendous in an hour, no room to escape it.

This thread reminds me of when we managed to get stuck in the snow trying to drive on an ice road with a car that had a very low body - got stuck in the snow and couldn't get out, and had a newborn in the car too so I couldn't just walk back (we weren't far from home but I wasn't going to walk across the lake carrying a baby). Got lucky when someone in a 4x4 came along and offered to tow us otherwise I don't know what we'd have done, we'd already tried digging the wheels out for ages.

Where in England are 4x4s tipping over because of their higher centre of gravity?! I’ve driven HardKnott Pass in my 4x4, which I believe is the steepest road in England and was not in any danger of toppling over. I needed a stiff gin at the end of that drive but that’s another story.

Hardknot Pass - stunning scenery which is wasted as one keeps eyes firmly on the road and knuckles gripped on the wheel ! I love being a passenger on that road.

Did it once in a tiny Smart Roadster. Oooh the smell of burning clutch though!

@thenightsky 🏎🔥

Space isn't an issue but I imagine it would be in a smaller garage (we have maybe 150 cars on site at the minute)

CoffeeBoy · Yesterday 19:35

Years ago we drove from Stansted to the East Midlands, up the A1 in heavy snow which was settled to some depth. We had snow chains on...

I don't believe you, because snow chains are not legal to use on tarmac covered roads in the UK.

I thought they were legal for use in the UK as long as the road surface is covered with snow?

No, they're only legal for use on unmetalled roads. The only places you'd see them used would be rural Scotland etc.

OK thanks, forgive the lack of UK specific knowledge but I usually do my most of my driving these days somewhere where chains/socks are mandatory on snow, even on metalled roads, hence the query.

Interesting (?) how different countries manage the same problem in different ways.

A friend of mine once said her older DD needed an emergency wee in the car once, so she gave her one of the baby’s nappies to use. She just tucked it into her knickers and bingo, problem solved!

I don't believe you, because snow chains are not legal to use on tarmac covered roads in the UK.

Neither is driving at over 70mph and yet it's a routine occurrence.

WisherWood

Neither is driving at over 70mph and yet it's a routine occurrence.

That's very true. But have you ever seen snow chains in the UK? I used to live outside Aberdeen and saw them on probably two occasions, on farmer's 4 WDs.

I genuinely had no idea that they’re illegal to use in the uk. They were in the boot due to a recent trip to the Alps where it’s illegal not to have them available to use if the conditions need them. So I’m afraid whether you believe me or not it’s the truth 😁

We drive to France frequently for ski trips otherwise we wouldn’t own them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have to say that reading around this a bit more (it's a slow morning) I haven't found anything yet providing reference/citation to UK legislation that says snow chains are illegal on snow covered metalled roads in the UK. Can anyone point me in a suitable direction?

That said I'm also aware from local use that they are not a panacea, and don't provide a magic solution to many of the problems people faced in the SE UK at the weekend.

CoffeeBoy

I genuinely had no idea that they’re illegal to use in the uk.

They're only illegal on tarmac roads. They're allowed on unmaintained and unmetalled roads, which are almost exclusively in rural areas.

Sorry for being snarky.

@SinnerBoy no worries. We’ve only used them that one time in the uk and I’d certainly have second thoughts about using them again if they’re illegal. Saying that there’s no way we’d have made it back without them.

I've just had a look up and it's a bit ambiguous. It may be OK to use them on snow covered tarmac.

www.autoexpress.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/winter-special/89290/winter-driving-tips-snow-chains-in-the-uk

Snow chains are generally used less in the UK than elsewhere in Europe due to our general lack of snow and the policy of gritting and clearing major roadways. It’s the quieter, more remote roads where snow chains could come in handy, because they must only be fitted where the road surface is covered by a layer of compacted snow or ice.

I'm going to hunt my driving instructor down and give him a piece of my mind! I remember distinctly that he said not on any roads with tarmac, only unmetalled.

@CoffeeBoy

FYI

www.snowchains.com/FAQs#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20snow%20chains,driving%20on%20a%20tarmac%20surface.

"The use of snow chains is legal in the UK, as long as they are not used in a manner that will damage the road surface. This means snow chains must only be used on snow-covered roads and need to be removed when driving on a tarmac surface."

Similar opinion to be found elsewhere in the MSM, e.g.

metro.co.uk/2018/03/02/snow-chains-legal-uk-7356070/

Maybe the sources are wrong (in which case I'm not surprised there's confusion) or there has been to change to the law since that advice/article was published.

I drive regular to the Alps and over g to e years have had all kinds of conditions. Snow chains are a faff and snow socks don’t work. Winter tyres (not studded) have seen me through lots of conditions that otherwise would have been impossible. My car has winter tyres on all year round -yes they wear faster but are good at road holding in rain. Front wheel drive essential too.

I have winter tyres & alloys and change them over twice a year at home(Dec & Mar) luckily I have storage and can do it resonably quickly. I cannot stress the extra safety and security for winter driving, they are not just for snow but for when the general temp goes below 7C. They also have so much better grip in the rain and cold/damp mornings that we in Britain suffer most from in the winter months.
Yes there is a pretty large investment initally but on the plus they will last 4-6 years, also using them means that your summer(normal) tires will last a lot longer, as not being used.
You also can always sell them on if you change vehicle as i have done on a number of times. To stress again as how much better grip they have, I have pulled a LandRover(summer tyres) out of a ditch with my BMW saloon on an snow/icey road in the Peak District.
It is an investment that I will always make, learnt from when I lived in Germany back in the 90's. Yes i can see the arguement that it only snows on a few days so is it worth it. But for me the added safety/stopping on cold & damp mornings is more than worth it.
Always buy in the summer they are cheaper!

Regarding needing the toilet when stuck in snow or traffic, or on any long drive. I have a medical problem that means I need it often, so my everyday vehicle is a small campervan with a chemical toilet. My daughter has a small car and keeps one of those Shewee bottles in the car. (In fact there are lots of different makes, with both female and male versions.)

But the real problem isn't finding a receptacle - it's finding the privacy to use it. The campervan has curtains. My daughter keeps a small blanket in her car, to put over herself.