Warning to drivers after 53 collisions on black ice across the county

9:08am Monday 28th January 2013 in News

Drivers are being warned to beware of black ice Drivers are being warned to beware of black ice

Police are warning drivers to take care after a spate of crashes on black ice today.

By 8am today, Wiltshire Police had dealt with 53 road traffic collisions caused by black ice on roads across the county.

Twenty eight were minor injury RTCs and 25 were non injury RTCs.

Wiltshire Police have repeated their urgent warning to motorists travelling this morning.

The police are urging motorists to take care and even re-consider their journey if is isn't necessary. Black Ice formed overnight on many roads in the county.

It is believed to have been due to the rain washing away the grit which had been spread on the roads to counter the recent snow.

Police are liaising with the Highways Agency and council partners to work on the worst areas affected.

Superintendent Nick Ashley said: "We have had a unprecedented number of road traffic accidents this morning.

"Thankfully, although there have been some injuries, these have not been serious but it is only a matter of time if motorists do not take care on the roads. After the heavy rain most of the grit that was placed on the roads during the snow has been washed away by the rain, this has then frozen and left black ice all over the roads.

"This can make roads extremely dangerous and I am urging motorists to take care or even reconsider travelling this morning."

Comments (10)

9:29am Mon 28 Jan 13

Real123 says...

So why were the council not out gritting????????????
????????
So why were the council not out gritting???????????? ???????? Real123

9:39am Mon 28 Jan 13

PaulD says...

Real123 wrote:
So why were the council not out gritting????????????

????????
because of the heavy rain which was washing the grit away?
[quote][p][bold]Real123[/bold] wrote: So why were the council not out gritting???????????? ????????[/p][/quote]because of the heavy rain which was washing the grit away? PaulD

11:04am Mon 28 Jan 13

The Real Librarian says...

The journey to Cheltenham was the same today. I saw a breakdown or crash almost every other mile. A summers worth of work for a skilled dry stone waller been created around the Highwayman.
The journey to Cheltenham was the same today. I saw a breakdown or crash almost every other mile. A summers worth of work for a skilled dry stone waller been created around the Highwayman. The Real Librarian

11:34am Mon 28 Jan 13

Robh says...

53 in Wiltshire alone! Why is it always someone elses fault?
53 in Wiltshire alone! Why is it always someone elses fault? Robh

1:19pm Mon 28 Jan 13

PaddyObama says...

Yep, A360 nr Tilshead at 6am this morning was well dodgy. At least three cars came to grief nr main tank crossing north of village. Just as well I watched the Colin McRae docu on telly last night.
Yep, A360 nr Tilshead at 6am this morning was well dodgy. At least three cars came to grief nr main tank crossing north of village. Just as well I watched the Colin McRae docu on telly last night. PaddyObama

10:20pm Mon 28 Jan 13

timt1964 says...

its called ice,apparently its been around for years but sadly driving skill has vanished.gave the adver another non story.
its called ice,apparently its been around for years but sadly driving skill has vanished.gave the adver another non story. timt1964

9:27am Tue 29 Jan 13

gambon says...

that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice
that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice gambon

10:16am Tue 29 Jan 13

The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man says...

gambon wrote:
that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice
Of course, that's complete nonsense, and there is no evidence that 1) these accidents are all young people (they're not), or that 2) making the driving test harder would make any difference (it won't).

You also (I guess) aren't aware that cars generally have less grip in cold conditions than they used to? - Because of the continued trrend towards "efficiency" tyres generally have a lower rolling resistance than they used to with a subsequent lower level of grip in cold conditions. Cars with summer tyres are generally less able to deal with temperatures less than 7 degrees. This in countered by having wider tyres which gives more surface area allowing for adequate braking. They get better fuel economy in warm conditions but this makes them rubbish in cold conditions.

As an example, in the snow last week I literally had no steering coming off my driveway. On nearly full lock, at just above 0 miles an hour, I went in a straight line. Had I hit a similar patch of ice at even slow road speeds I doubt it would have been controllable.
[quote][p][bold]gambon[/bold] wrote: that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice[/p][/quote]Of course, that's complete nonsense, and there is no evidence that 1) these accidents are all young people (they're not), or that 2) making the driving test harder would make any difference (it won't). You also (I guess) aren't aware that cars generally have less grip in cold conditions than they used to? - Because of the continued trrend towards "efficiency" tyres generally have a lower rolling resistance than they used to with a subsequent lower level of grip in cold conditions. Cars with summer tyres are generally less able to deal with temperatures less than 7 degrees. This in countered by having wider tyres which gives more surface area allowing for adequate braking. They get better fuel economy in warm conditions but this makes them rubbish in cold conditions. As an example, in the snow last week I literally had no steering coming off my driveway. On nearly full lock, at just above 0 miles an hour, I went in a straight line. Had I hit a similar patch of ice at even slow road speeds I doubt it would have been controllable. The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man

6:32pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Mrs Donnyfly says...

gambon wrote:
that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice
Who told you the driving test was harder in the olden days? The driving test is much harder to pass now than it ever used to be. Are you saying that in the olden days driving on ice was part of the test?
[quote][p][bold]gambon[/bold] wrote: that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice[/p][/quote]Who told you the driving test was harder in the olden days? The driving test is much harder to pass now than it ever used to be. Are you saying that in the olden days driving on ice was part of the test? Mrs Donnyfly

8:24am Thu 31 Jan 13

beetawix says...

gambon wrote:
that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice
Olden days?
Pre 1935 there was no test at all.

To further Donnyfly's point -
what a laugh to imagine the olden days when on the first icy morning of winter hundreds of driving test applicants would receive a call to get testing, a whole years worth queued since the last icy morning.
[quote][p][bold]gambon[/bold] wrote: that is why the driving test should be made harder like in the olden days the youth of today do not have the skills to deal with ice[/p][/quote]Olden days? Pre 1935 there was no test at all. To further Donnyfly's point - what a laugh to imagine the olden days when on the first icy morning of winter hundreds of driving test applicants would receive a call to get testing, a whole years worth queued since the last icy morning. beetawix

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