Did anybody else have any big problems with it then, regarding getting around and/or to do with work ?. We're a vehicle based drinks delivering business, from one site to another, and then onto the pubs and the supermarkets etc, and it caused absolute havoc!. Some drivers and members of staff got stuck, and some drivers were either told to stay at home, or even refused to go out!!. The thing is though, surely we all knew it was going to happen. But yet we always seem to be terribly prepared here in the Uk, when it comes to snow at this time of the year!.
Yep. One of our drivers got stuck in a customer's yard and had to stay there overnight. Sent someone to rescue him Monday morning. But yes to say the warnings were in place for a full week before it hit, then 90% of the country comes to a standstill. It's crazy Just over 10 years ago I flew into Chicago and then into Madison for business snow much deeper than we get here but the roads were all clear. Snow ploughs out on both sides clearing the roads, over here all of the gritters are fitted with plough but very rarely see them in action. Why?
I had to stay on for 4 more hours on the Sunday morning, which meant a 16 hour night/morning shift!. Luckily though my site is just a 6 minute drive home (and I can walk it if needed), and I don't have to risk the motorways. I hate the idea of some unfortunate people being stuck in their vehicles, in freezing temps.
However Chicago is guaranteed loads of snow throughout winter, so are readily prepared for what will happen. We are not guaranteed snow even once a year so don't have people or equipment to tackle it. Still, we did know about this and round where I live even the roads weren't pre gritted
I think that's the crux of the matter if it came in the winter months year in year out we would be much better prepared. I think it was explained in a previous post about grit been pretty useless in heavy snow. I would imagine you need ploughs and blower things that are too expensive to use one or twice every few years. I get though how frustrating it must be when your livelihood depends on moving stuff from a to b.
Grit wouldn’t work for the reasons mentioned above. I’d say the onus is on the company to be prepared if they are going to use the complaint that everyone ‘knew it was going to happen’. Why aren’t they making sure all the vehicles are fit for winter driving? I’m not surprised some ‘even refused to go out!!’ if others got stuck and they knew they would too.
Your right Jam, but sadly some of those drivers might even get disciplined now for it!. And as for trying to fix vehicles for these conditions, it sounds easy, but who is going to pay for it!.
We got told not to go into work on Monday after setting off then having to turn back. Quite bad up Penistone and Crow Edge at work
Hhhmm, yeah lol, you try telling that ehh to Gxo!. Seriously Jam, I do agree with you, and I wish it could be sorted out decently. Yeah I know it's only a problem for a few months each year etc, but when it happens, it hits badly doesn't it!.
It caused us plenty of problems. Flight back from Funchal to Leeds Bradford got put back 10 hours then got diverted to Liverpool. All in all, after getting picked up from the hotel at 3pm on Sunday we walked in the front door at 9am on Monday!
It’s seen as not an area to invest in. I guess given the climate it would be pointless to throw millions at it or have adapted vehicles as many have in parts of Eastern Europe/canada to only need them a couple of times a year. Doent make it any less of a pain in the ass for business mind
There's a simple answer...snow tyres. Back in the 60's/70's it snowed every year to one degree or another, my old man always had a spare pair of wheel rims fitted with snow tyres for the driving wheels, we never failed to get anywhere. The last time I bought them was around 2009/10 ish, my elderly in-laws lived in Sheffield, which tends to get much heavier snow than Barnsley, and we decided it was vital to get there if needed. I bought a pair of rims from a scrapyard, but had to import the snow tyres from Germany as I couldn't find anywhere local still selling them. We only needed them twice but they did the job. You have to take them off as soon as the snow has gone as they wear out pretty quickly on normal road surfaces. Back in the day though most cars had cheap steel wheels, often they would fit plenty of different cars so it wasn't much of a problem, now that so many vehicles have bespoke, hideously expensive alloy works of art I recognise it's not as doable.
100% winter tyres. They ought to be a pre-requisite to driving in winter. Day and night difference. Ive used em every year since 2010 and even the rear wheel drive bmw kept on ticking when 4x4s were getting stuck.
I have all season tyres, they are great when you are out in light traffic but of little use in a jam when everybody else caught up doesn't have them.
