4. Communications

The severity and prolonged nature of the winter meant that a level of disruption was inevitable and to be expected. Keeping strategic and priority routes open required significant effort resulting in it taking longer to get to clearing minor routes and footways. Members of the public and businesses were keen to help by clearing snow and ice from these minor routes and footways when service providers’ resources were concentrated on the priority network. There were however concerns regarding liability should an accident subsequently occur and consequently people who wanted to help weren’t sure if they should. There were expectations on roads authorities to keep all roads clear at all times and occasions when the travelling public ignored road closed signs and continued with their journeys compounding efforts to clear roads when they became stranded. In the case of some roads such as the A9 and A90 lengthy closures were caused by jack-knifed lorries on what were generally open and passable roads. It is very important drivers and particularly professional drivers reduce their speed and take heed of what must be obviously poor conditions (Recommendation 1, 7)

It became clear during winter 2009/10 that consistent advice is required to be sent out to the public in relation to liability for clearing snow and ice on footways when service providers’ resources are concentrated on the priority network. It is not possible to provide a service to all parts of the road network. As such the public must be encouraged to clear paths and minor access roads, self-help facilities also need be adequately provided. There is also a need for community resilience to be encouraged in rural areas, for example, the maintenance of higher heating fuel stocks throughout the winter season. Grit bins are widely available however consideration should be made to provide high visibility vests, shovels and mini-spreaders to community groups. (Recommendation 9)

During the winter the media interest was intense. In most cases the same officers in roads authorities were involved in managing a difficult winter service and answering media enquiries. To reduce stress and make a more efficient use of resources use should made of electronic media such as websites and as much information should be put into the public arena in a proactive way.