Letters / Pre-gritting doesn’t work
AS AN ex-gritter driver I’m somewhat astounded that the council have now finally admitted that pre-gritting in rain does not work.
For years I said that gritting at tea time was a waste of time in rain or sunshine, as all the cars going home either washed it off the road or blew it off; so by 9 or 10 o’clock there was nothing left to help anyone.
And as for the council trying to say that they were caught out with freak weather: I think that’s rubbish as I know they have one of the best weather forecasting services that there is.
They also have road engineers who go out at least an hour before drivers are called out, unless they have been cut back as well. I’m sorry to say, Mr Crossland, these conditions are anything but rare, but very much the opposite, I’m afraid.
Once upon a time the drivers used their discretion as to how much salt should go on roads. If they felt roads needed a bit more, then they would turn up their feed belt speed. However over the last two or three years the council has been cutting down on the amount of salt going on the road, and I am not surprised so many vehicles are having accidents.
Having said that, I think there is no excuse for so many drivers needing to go so fast that they are unable to cope with the conditions. Many people believe that just because they see a gritter it means the roads must be fine. However, depending on how cold it is also makes a difference as to how long it takes for the salt to start working.
I still have a lot of admiration for the boys that drive the gritters as I know what a lot of these roads are like. Most of them take their lives in their hands every time they go out in slippy conditions, as no one grits the road for them.
When there is deep snow trying to find a side road with about two inches of verge each side is anything but fun.
Michael Mackay
Lerwick
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