Advice to drivers
We try our best to keep the main roads around the city clear of snow and ice. However, we don't treat side roads and these can be very icy. Drivers are urged to take extra care or use public transport instead. If you have to go out in your vehicles, you should:
- allow extra time for the journey
- make sure your vehicle is prepared for driving in winter weather
- reduce speed in bad weather
- increase stopping distances
- avoid sudden acceleration and braking
- drive slowly through bends
- use dipped headlights in poor conditions
- listen to travel bulletins
Further details and advice on winter driving can be found on the DirectGov website.
Advice to pedestrians
In severe weather, we clear snow and grit the main pedestrian areas. However, many footpaths are not treated and may be slippy underfoot.
If you have to go out on foot, we encourage you to wear sensible shoes with plenty of grip. Wearing thick clothing and coats with plenty of padding may also provide a cushioning effect, if you were to slip and fall over.
Pedestrians should walk slowly and carefully, allowing extra time for their journey. Pedestrians need to keep aware of approaching vehicles and make sure they can be seen at night.
Road Salt - How it Works
Rock salt is used for treating roads, footways and cycletracks and although it has a gritty appearance it is not 'grit'.
The salt works by lowering the freezing point of moisture on the road surface. Before salt can become effective, it needs to be crushed by the traffic and dissolve to form brine (salty water).
It is less effective at temperatures below minus five degrees centigrade (-5°C) and has virtually no effect below -10°C.
The white appearance of a well salted, dry road surface should not be mistaken for frost and it is normally safe for traffic movement. Often, even when dry, residual salt will itself attract moisture and can give the road surface a damp appearance, but the salt should prevent the moisture from freezing.
Heavy snow will accumulate on roads that have been gritted until it is worked into the salt and brine by the traffic.
There is no such thing as an absolutely safe road surface. The presence of salt will not always guarantee a snow or ice-free surface and the surface may still be wet.
Concentration and care is always necessary when driving in winter.
Useful links
www.direct.gov.uk
Traffic and Travel
BBC Weather
*Leicester City Council is not responsible for the content and services on external websites.
