The snow and ice chaos on Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill last week could be avoided in future, thanks to an environmental solution researched by County Cllr Gordon Hook.
He wants the county council to recycle the summer sunshine collected by Devon's roads and use it to keep them ice free in winter.
He has been looking at an experimental scheme that uses pipes installed underneath a section of road. The system would use solar energy gathered in summer and recirculated in winter when needed.
FULL WEATHER ROUND-UP IN OUR ONLINE EDITION