The gritters are out in force tonight as temperatures plummet across Teignbridge.
Devon’s army of gritters will be out on the roads as forecasters predict temperatures to plummet below freezing.
With the mercury set to drop as low as minus five degrees overnight, Devon County Council’s salt spreading crews are starting to treat more than 2,000 miles of road on the primary and secondary network.
Precautionary treatment will start this evening due to the potential for hoar frost and to try to combat dangerous icy patches forming on roads, with some routes receiving an additional treatment before the morning rush hour.
Although conditions are dry motorist are warned to take care as there is a risk of ice on wet patches from last week’s storm, particularly on roads not on the primary or secondary network.
With frosty conditions predicted to continue for the next few days and road surface temperatures forecast to fall to minus seven degrees on Tuesday night, highway chiefs are continually monitoring weather and road temperatures to decide when and where further gritting may be needed.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, said:’We’re due to experience some of the lowest temperatures we’ve seen for a while, and we are well prepared to keep the county moving during this cold snap.
‘Our fleet of 37 frontline gritters are geared up and ready to go, treating primary and secondary routes designed to cover around 25 per cent of Devon’s highway network and ensuring all strategic routes and major roads are salted if necessary.’
Road users 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.