Roads in winter

Your gritting questions answered

We treat key roads when ice or snow is forecast to help keep people moving safely. We cannot grit every road, so we focus on the routes that are most important.

Below are answers to common questions about gritting and winter services.

Why hasn’t my street been gritted?

We prioritise main routes first, including:

roads to hospitals, schools and emergency services
A and B class roads
key access routes in rural areas
main roads in towns

Most residential streets are not treated. We do not have the resources to grit every road, and we often need to treat main routes again if weather conditions change.

Why haven’t I seen a gritter?

Our gritting routes cover over 1,190 km and are often treated overnight. Gritters cannot be everywhere at once, so you may not always see them.

Why is a gritter not spreading salt?

Gritters may not always be spreading salt because:

they are travelling to or from their route
they are returning to refill
only a light treatment is needed

All gritters are sent out with salt.

Why was a gritter parked?

Drivers work long hours and must take breaks, so you may see gritters parked between runs.

Why are grit bins empty?

We refill grit bins regularly during winter, but they can empty quickly in severe weather.

Why is the road still white?

Grit helps stop ice from forming, but does not prevent snow from building up. After snowfall, roads may need to be ploughed and treated again.

Salt also works better with traffic movement. On quieter roads, snow and ice can take longer to clear.

In very heavy snow conditions, our grit lorries add coarse material such as sharp sand to the rock salt to give traction for vehicles and to help the break-up of snow layers.

Why is my road still icy after gritting?

Ice can still form after gritting if:

rain washes salt off the surface
water runs onto the road and freezes
weather conditions change quickly

Always take care when driving or walking in freezing conditions.