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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Roads grinding to a halt re snow...

45 replies

wibblyjelly · 18/01/2013 09:53

Please don't flame me too much, I don't want the snow to melt!

Surely one of the main reason why the roads ground to a halt is that we as the British public aren't properly prepared. And I mean the drivers. How many people have put snow chains on their cars, or winter tyres, when we know it is going to snow? Probably not a lot of us. And how many of us have things like a show shovel in the car, in case we need digging out, or a flask of hot drink, blankets etc?

Aibu in thinking there should be more public awareness about what you should have with you in case of snow, and if people don't follow the advice, and it causes grid lock, they shouldn't then moan about it?

OP posts:

NotADragonOfSoup · 18/01/2013 11:03

I've just ordered snow socks for my car. Personally, I tend not to drive in snow as I have never been taught how to do so safely. It is completely unnecessary here anyway - we all have functioning legs :)

I'll be pleased to know the socks will be in the car if I need them in an emergency though.

elizaregina · 18/01/2013 11:08

Thanks so much for sock link Dragon, how fab!

Paiviaso · 18/01/2013 11:15

YANBU.

It is all well and good to not have winter tyres if you can avoid travelling when it snows. For example, I have a very short commute, and if I had to miss work - no biggie.

But DP does need to travel, he makes a 1.5 hour drive twice a week. He is really worried about missing work (he's a lecturer, so he would be letting people down) but wont entertain the idea of snow tyres. "It wont make any difference."

I know they are expensive, but I think they are certainly worth it if you don't want your life disrupted by snow flurries/cold temps.

Mia4 · 18/01/2013 11:19

YABU, you can't use snow chains in the UK they damage the roads. Half the roads aren't gritted and tbh gritting does nothing with this much snow. The roads grind to a halt because they aren't gritter or the grits done nothing, since most people have to travel this causes gridlocks. No travel-no gridlock.

I agree some awareness would be good-advert on tv or something but even then you'll get idiots ignoring and from what I've seen driving in the snow, it's these idiots who cause accidents and other cars to skid but don't usually get affected themselves. Aka arsehole drivers are arsehole drivers regardless or wind, rain, snow or shine.

The danger is not so much now but tonight when temp drops and snow becomes ice. Winter tires do fuck all on ice, I know I have them. Fresh snow-great. Ice, no chance. Those socks are a great idea though, I will get some. Are they easy to fit does anyone know?

Follyfoot · 18/01/2013 12:42

Yes the socks are easy to fit. DH does his in a couple of minutes. They are elasticated so you put them over as much of the tyre as you can, then drive forwards or backwards a little to put them over the bit that was on the ground IYSWIM. They come with really long gloves so you dont get dirty putting them on. And you can put the socks in the washing machine when they are dirty, then pack them back up ready for next time. I bought them for him for Christmas a couple of years ago and they have been great.

You should take them off if you are driving on a snowless road though as they will wear more quickly if you dont.

We bought ours from this company.

DH would have had to abandon his car in our - single track - lane last night without them. They got him up an extremely steep and slippery slope. By the way, I think there are some imitation products about, personally I wouldnt buy them.

valiumredhead · 18/01/2013 12:49

I remember boxes on the sides of roads full of salt/grit where you could go out and make sure your bit of the road was clear. Nothing like that where I live now, in fact I can't remember see in one for years.

Gritters are useless here and usually only come out once there has been an accident.

FryOneFatManic · 18/01/2013 13:04

I've seen the odd idiot driving today, but the roads are definitely clearer than normal so some people are heeding advice.

I had to walk into town (ha, car won't start) but pavements are clear except for the bits on our estate cos they never grit here. Snow's just starting, and the merest whisper settling on the ground, but it's the ice still remaining on our estate I worry about.

DoItToJulia · 18/01/2013 13:08

If you put winter tyres on it counts as a modification so you need to update you car insurance too....

ILikeBirds · 18/01/2013 13:10

Gridlock is not just because people aren't prepared, often the sheer volume of cars on the road means that as soon as everyone has to go a little bit slower there's not the capacity = gridlock.

JuliaSqueezer · 18/01/2013 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ilovesunflowers · 18/01/2013 13:37

The roads are fine where I live (northeast). Well gritted, moving well. It's below freezing and there's snow but its fine. This grinding to a halt comment drives me insane. No matter where I've lived I've never seen roads grind to a halt.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 18/01/2013 13:43

DoIt - you only have to notify them, there is no increase in premium - because you are safer driving with them than without!

NaturalBaby · 18/01/2013 14:03

We used a hire car to get to Germany last winter and had to swap cars because we needed winter tyres.

As much as I would love to put winter tyres on, we can't afford several hundred £'s for a few days a year, so we're just staying at home!

The school had the caretakers out shoveling and gritting earlier but the main roads are a disaster.

VoiceofUnreason · 18/01/2013 14:11

My dad bought winter tyres for his car in 2011. He lives down a hill in a small town that is also on a hill and when it snows, they really get it.

They were ridiculously expensive. Bearing in mind the last serious snow fall was December 2010 (today's is nowhere near as bad here), it's a big outlay for probably little use. When I was young, we had thick snow every winter. Far worse than anything we get now. Really no excuse for the total shut down we get.

Driving on ice can be very nasty. Driving on snow is not at all difficult. Without winter tyres.

fallon8 · 18/01/2013 14:18

We don't have any snow,,but have seen it on telly...despite warnings, as a nation we are never ready!!!!It is cold tho.central heating blasting away,fire up chimney

IfNotNowThenWhen · 18/01/2013 14:19

The thing that arses me off is that councils may grit the roads, but the pavements can be sheet ice and no-one does anything.
I live in a v. hilly place, and a couple of years ago all the old people by me were literally stuck inside because you couldn't walk anywhere.
I actually ended up taking my shopping bag on wheels, walking to find a grit box, filling it with grit, and gritting the worst pavements using a plastic bag with a hole in the bottom. Not easy!
I used to live in another country, where the winters were cold, and it was the absolute done thing there that when it snowed or was icy, you would go out and shovel/grit the pavement outside your house. Makes sense. If everyone did this-no problem, but frankly people in this country are more bothered about whether they can get their car out or not than whether their neighbour with a baby, or a dodgy hip, can make it to the shops.

schoolgovernor · 18/01/2013 15:24

"I've seen the odd idiot driving..."
Did you stop and ask them why they were driving? District nurse? Fireman? Gritter lorry driver? Midwife? Person who needed to get to livestock? ?

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/01/2013 15:34

I work in a clinical setting so need to get to work. I put snow and ice tyres on my 4x4 every November and take them off in March. They are great in the snow, but also the wet providing extra traction. I use fewer road tyres so over a 5 year period costs are not that different. I also monitor my fuel usage and there is only about 1mph/g difference between winter and road tyres. Fantastic investment.

Pendeen · 19/01/2013 00:58

I put my Conti Winter tyres on my alfa in december and take them off in april.

Last January I remember driving up a notorious steep hill which was just one big sheet of ice, passing several 4x4s including a brand new range rover, a Toyota landcruiser and 2 land rover 90s that were all just sliding and spinning their wheels.

The best 4x4 in the world is useless when it?s all weather tyres simply cannot grip the ice.

ShellyBoobs · 19/01/2013 01:44

If you put winter tyres on it counts as a modification so you need to update you car insurance too....

The ABI's winter tyre committment shows that you don't even need to let most insurers know about the fitting of winter tyres, let alone have to pay them.

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