There is clearly a responsibility on every one of us to drive with care, especially during winter weather.
You may be travelling on a road that is not part of a main gritting route or you may be on a road before it has been treated. If this is the case, slow down.
Salt spreading does not make roads completely safe; a common misconception is that rock salt will immediately disperse ice and snow and that the roads are then safe to use normally. This is not the case and traffic flows are needed to work the salt into the road surface for it to be effective. This takes time to achieve.
The Met Office issues regular forecasts and each night on TV and radio, warnings may be given of likely adverse road conditions - pay attention to any warnings and set your alarm earlier to allow more time for your journey. If the weather is forecast to be really severe think about whether your journey is really necessary.
Watch out for tell tale signs, like frost on the car and icy puddles they mean that the roads may be slippery. Watch out for shady places or areas beneath overhanging trees as sudden changes in surface condition can easily occur.
Wait for your windscreen to clear before driving off; an icy screen is no better than driving in thick fog! Accelerate and brake more gently when in wet or icy conditions and brake before reaching a bend, not on it.
