Warning of risk of snow and ice on Devon's roads

People in Devon are being urged to take extra care when travelling later today and overnight, with widespread snow forecast.

Localised showers are expected to turn wintry from around 6pm tonight onwards, with The Met Office issuing a yellow alert for the risk of snow, particularly on higher ground and in the north of the county. However, snow may fall across any part of Devon.

Devon County Council, the Highways Agency, and Devon and Cornwall Police are advising motorists to check the weather forecast and road conditions before setting out.

The authorities have mobilised teams across the county, gearing up for the potential of snow. Vehicles have been deployed at Haldon Hill, Telegraph Hill and the North Devon Link Road to monitor the situation, and are prepared to step up their response should conditions become more severe.

Devon County Council is warning that conditions on the local highway network will be challenging with a mix of rain, sleet and possibly up to 5cm of snow on higher ground, including Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill.

Devon County Council gritters are treating around 1,700 miles of the precautionary salting network across the county from around 3pm and again overnight. Road surface temperatures are expected to drop as low as -2.5 C overnight which could mean that ice could be a problem tomorrow morning, particularly on untreated roads.

The Highways Agency, which is responsible for motorways and major A-roads, is treating the 170 miles of the strategic road network in the county.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “The potential combination of rain, sleet and snow makes conditions extremely challenging on our roads. The rain can wash the salt from the roads, so our highways teams are working to ensure that travelling conditions do not become hazardous, particularly while people are travelling this evening and tomorrow morning. I would urge everyone to be alert to the conditions, plan your journey accordingly – particularly if it isn’t essential - and be prepared for the possibility of disruption, so allow extra travel time.”

Highways Agency Emergency Planning Manager, Rob Llewellyn, said: “The Highways Agency and its partners are well prepared for severe weather at Haldon Hill but we would remind drivers they also need to check the latest weather and traffic reports before setting out and decide if their journey is absolutely necessary if conditions worsen.”

Motorists are reminded of the following advice:

Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;
Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;
Allow additional time for your journey and reduce your speed;
Drive with care and according to the conditions;
If you have vulnerable or elderly neighbours, think about how they could possibly be helped through the cold spell;
Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions.
National charity Living Streets is warning of the dangers of icy pavements and the risk of heavy snow fall leaving vulnerable people stranded in their homes.

Older people or those with mobility problems are particularly at risk, says Living Streets Chief Executive Joe Irvin: "We recently commissioned a YouGov poll and 57 per cent of adults aged 65 and over told us that icy pavements are one of the main factors which discourages them from getting out and about. We hear a lot about the importance of gritting and making roads safe for drivers, but pavements and people who travel on foot are often overlooked. This winter we are asking members of the public to think about those who are more vulnerable."

Living Streets is urging people to sign up to become a Snow Angel and think about clearing the paths of their less able neighbours as well as their own. For more information visit the Living Streets website.

Further advice and information:

Information about a winter driving kit and other advice to help motorists be prepared for winter is on the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/winter.

Up-to-date information on road conditions on England’s motorways and trunk roads is available on the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.

For information on motorways and trunk roads in the South West follow @HAtraffic_swest or for the full index visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.

Traffic information is also available on Twitter on @winterhighways and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/winterhighways).

For more information and travel advice from Devon County Council visit: www.devon.gov.uk/winter_travel or for updates on Twitter follow @HughHOCC and @DevonAlert