Tonight will see gritters out on some of Devon’s major roads for the first time this winter.

Road surface temperatures are forecast to drop close to freezing in parts of the county overnight. Although conditions are dry, 19 of Devon’s 37 precautionary pre-salting routes will be treated due to the potential for hoar frost.

The main gritting activity will be focussed around Torridge, Mid, West and North Devon, and inland areas of East Devon. Other parts of the county will be monitored.

Devon County Council is well prepared to keep the county moving over the coming months. Its fleet of 37 frontline gritters is available to treat a 2,000 mile network of primary and secondary salting routes, covering around 25% of the county’s highways. Last winter, the first salting treatment was carried out on 20 November and over the course of the season around 10,000 tonnes of salt were used on Devon’s roads.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management and Flood Prevention, said: ‘Although conditions may seem relatively mild at the moment, temperatures are starting to drop.

‘Most of us have got used to the mild temperatures but we can’t be complacent, particularly at this time of year. It’s worth bearing in mind that there may be hoar frost on some of the county’s roads overnight and tomorrow morning and it may be colder this coming weekend, so I would appeal for everyone to take extra care.’