SNOW UPDATE

Last updated - 09:30 am on Wednesday, January 13th 2010

At this time all major roads remain open and driveable.

We would advise the public that, following the freezing temperatures over night, the roads are extremely dangerous.  People should take extreme care when driving on roads.  Even roads that have been gritted and cleared of snow will be more hazardous than usual with higher risks of skidding.

Police are issuing the following advice to motorists:

Motorists are advised to take extra precautions and only drive if the journey is necessary. If you are planning to drive, be prepared that your journey is likely to take far longer than usual and take extreme care. Ensure you are wearing sensible and warm clothing and footwear, and if you are travelling by car, you should prepare for a breakdown and carry extra provisions such as a flask of hot drink, food, blankets and a shovel.

During the extreme weather conditions, the Constabulary’s Control Room experiences very high numbers of calls and officers are urging people to only call 999 in an emergency. Police patrols will assist where possible.

Police have a duty to ensure as far as possible that roads are clear, safe and remain open and drivers are reminded that if they abandon their vehicle, and it is causing an obstruction or is in a dangerous position, it may be removed by police and the owner will have to pay the removal charge. Abandoned cars have to be removed before ploughing and additional gritting can take place and this cannot be done where cars are obstructing the highway.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has a full complement of operational officers and staff on duty and are providing a full emergency cover service for the county.

Due to the weather conditions some police surgeries may have to be cancelled - please check the Safer Neighbourhood pages of our website for more information.

In addition, whilst we hope that people can enjoy the snow where appropriate this should not be at other people’s expense and we remind people that they can enjoy themselves safely without being anti-social.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is also issuing the following driving advice. Drive extremely carefully when the roads are icy. Avoid sudden actions as these could cause loss of control. You should:

·        drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently
·        drive particularly slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely. Brake progressively on the straight before you reach a bend. Having slowed down, steer smoothly round the bend, avoiding sudden actions
·        check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or ice by choosing a safe place to brake gently. If the steering feels unresponsive this may indicate ice and your vehicle losing its grip on the road. When travelling on ice, tyres make virtually no noise.
Drivers are also advised to ensure they have sufficient fuel for their journey and that their screen wash is topped up to ensure they can clear the windscreen whilst driving.