Something i heard in work today! UK related.

The reason given for our poor performance in winter is that the UK does not have the sustained snow and cold to make it worth setting up the infrastructure to deal with it. But given our last three winters, this surely has to change. I think some councils are just getting real.

Well I liked lots of snow and the ice on the hills combined with a lack of salt stopped anyone going to work.. which in turn led the whole community to actually take the time to have fun with their kids instead of being separated from them by facebook or a PS3.. Everything from Roadsigns and tables where turned into sledges..

I hope this winter is as much fun and for the record Britains deadliest avalanche happened on the Southern Coast a mile of so from where I live.

They run out every winter in 3 or 4 days, this is nothing.

It doesnt mean its going to be a harsh winter, it just means they are a little more prepared after being caught short year after year.

news.bbc.co.uk...

Surely it would be cheaper to steam blast the snow and ice away, like you do when you want to strip wallpaper in your house?

All that would do is melt the snow which would then turn to ice. Next time you have snow on your car, pour hot water on it and see what happens.

Salt prevents snow and ice.

Also, it would waste lots of energy.

Originally posted by Flyer
All that would do is melt the snow which would then turn to ice. Next time you have snow on your car, pour hot water on it and see what happens.

Salt prevents snow and ice.

Also, it would waste lots of energy.

Not if the water was heated through the kinetic energy generated by the truck with the water

Originally posted by Itop1
While i was at work today, i over heard a manager talking on the phone regarding salt stock, apparently a southern council has ordered 12,000 tonnes of Salt! many of you may not realise this but that is a HUGE amount compared to what we usually have stocked, the last couple of winters we have only had around 4,000 tonnes.

According to some internal reports floating around, uk winter 2011/2012 is going to be a bad one.

Is this not because nearly all local authorities have run out of the stuff for 3 years on the trot. Their just covering themselves because they don't know their arse from their elbow as usual.

There will still be havok on the roads, up here in Cumbria their still fixing pot holes from years ago?

Originally posted by Swanfilters
Surely it would be cheaper to steam blast the snow and ice away, like you do when you want to strip wallpaper in your house?

'

Then it turns to ice, good idea.

What the UK needs to do is make a law requiring WINTER TYRES, not let idiots drive around in SUMMER tyres in low temperatures.

Sure they can ban metal spikes but they can allow PLASTIC / Rubber spikes.

Winter tyres are narrower (sometimes idiots put on FAT WIDE tyres in winter thinking theyre cool lol but that is WORSE)., Winter tyres have a feathered tread to grip the snow more. Winter tyres have SOFTER rubber compound (higher silicon) to prevent them hardening up and becomming effectively PLASTIC.

I have seen people RACE up hills in cars thinking speed helps, wrong. If you have power to your wheels and the right tyres, you can drive slowly up. So what if you slide a little, you have a handbrake, learn to use it.

Buy a cheap set of steel rims, stick winter tyres on them, then just swap over the wheels every season.

What the UK needs to do is have skid pan lessons for all new drivers. So they can handle a skid.


That is why the UK comes to a halt in winter, don't depend on salt, use the right equipment on your car / bike etc.

Lack of simple education and the correct laws.

If you want cold, come here and your gear box actually can freeze solid (if you don't have winter oil in it )

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Originally posted by Swanfilters
Surely it would be cheaper to steam blast the snow and ice away, like you do when you want to strip wallpaper in your house?

'

Then it turns to ice, good idea.

What the UK needs to do is make a law requiring WINTER TYRES, not let idiots drive around in SUMMER tyres in low temperatures.

Sure they can ban metal spikes but they can allow PLASTIC / Rubber spikes.

Winter tyres are narrower (sometimes idiots put on FAT WIDE tyres in winter thinking theyre cool lol but that is WORSE)., Winter tyres have a feathered tread to grip the snow more. Winter tyres have SOFTER rubber compound (higher silicon) to prevent them hardening up and becomming effectively PLASTIC.

I have seen people RACE up hills in cars thinking speed helps, wrong. If you have power to your wheels and the right tyres, you can drive slowly up. So what if you slide a little, you have a handbrake, learn to use it.

What the UK needs to do is have skid pan lessons for all new drivers. So they can handle a skid.

That is why the UK comes to a halt in winter, don't depend on salt, use the right equipment on your car / bike etc.

There is no need to be rude. I'm reporting your whole post now. Like I said in previous posts, what you do in your country is irrelevant, because you do not have the same weather systems.

Originally posted by Swanfilters

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Originally posted by Swanfilters
Surely it would be cheaper to steam blast the snow and ice away, like you do when you want to strip wallpaper in your house?

'

Then it turns to ice, good idea.

What the UK needs to do is make a law requiring WINTER TYRES, not let idiots drive around in SUMMER tyres in low temperatures.

Sure they can ban metal spikes but they can allow PLASTIC / Rubber spikes.

Winter tyres are narrower (sometimes idiots put on FAT WIDE tyres in winter thinking theyre cool lol but that is WORSE)., Winter tyres have a feathered tread to grip the snow more. Winter tyres have SOFTER rubber compound (higher silicon) to prevent them hardening up and becomming effectively PLASTIC.

I have seen people RACE up hills in cars thinking speed helps, wrong. If you have power to your wheels and the right tyres, you can drive slowly up. So what if you slide a little, you have a handbrake, learn to use it.

What the UK needs to do is have skid pan lessons for all new drivers. So they can handle a skid.

That is why the UK comes to a halt in winter, don't depend on salt, use the right equipment on your car / bike etc.

There is no need to be rude. I'm reporting your whole post now.

Rude? I was simply explaining how to correctly fit a car for winter.

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Originally posted by Swanfilters

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Originally posted by Swanfilters
Surely it would be cheaper to steam blast the snow and ice away, like you do when you want to strip wallpaper in your house?

'

Then it turns to ice, good idea.

What the UK needs to do is make a law requiring WINTER TYRES, not let idiots drive around in SUMMER tyres in low temperatures.

Sure they can ban metal spikes but they can allow PLASTIC / Rubber spikes.

Winter tyres are narrower (sometimes idiots put on FAT WIDE tyres in winter thinking theyre cool lol but that is WORSE)., Winter tyres have a feathered tread to grip the snow more. Winter tyres have SOFTER rubber compound (higher silicon) to prevent them hardening up and becomming effectively PLASTIC.

I have seen people RACE up hills in cars thinking speed helps, wrong. If you have power to your wheels and the right tyres, you can drive slowly up. So what if you slide a little, you have a handbrake, learn to use it.

What the UK needs to do is have skid pan lessons for all new drivers. So they can handle a skid.

That is why the UK comes to a halt in winter, don't depend on salt, use the right equipment on your car / bike etc.

There is no need to be rude. I'm reporting your whole post now.

Rude? I was simply explaining how to correctly fit a car for winter.

Your whole attitude, your sarcasm at my idea and liberal use of the word "idiot" is not good for discussion. I wish there was a way to ignore ignorant foreigners like you.

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Somebody has a case of the Mondays.

Off topic posts get reported as well.

Back to topic, what is the betting that even despite the bulk purchase of salt is not enough to prevent havoc this year?

Originally posted by Swanfilters

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Somebody has a case of the Mondays.

Off topic posts get reported as well.

Back to topic, what is the betting that even despite the bulk purchase of salt is not enough to prevent havoc this year?

What brush snow ploughs, salt just makes a mess on the roads and rusts cars.

Alternativey you can leave the dirt on your car every winter and the salt won't get onto the metal body and rust it as much, also grease the chasis then hose it off in summer.

Depending on salt and spraying salt everywhere just is not such a good idea.

What will you do when they have no salt? Sit there screaming at the council? Seriously, fit the right tyres and you won't need to be 100% dependant on the council. Unless you like it that way.

Laws requiring new tyres are no good IMO. Motoring in the UK costs plenty as it is without having to fork out for new seasonal tyres every winter.

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Originally posted by Swanfilters

Originally posted by FruitSmoothie

Somebody has a case of the Mondays.

Off topic posts get reported as well.

Back to topic, what is the betting that even despite the bulk purchase of salt is not enough to prevent havoc this year?

What brush snow ploughs, salt just makes a mess on the roads and rusts cars.

Alternativey you can leave the dirt on your car every winter and the salt won't get onto the metal body and rust it as much, also grease the chasis then hose it off in summer.

Depending on salt and spraying salt everywhere just is not such a good idea.

What will you do when they have no salt? Sit there screaming at the council? Seriously, fit the right tyres and you won't need to be 100% dependant on the council. Unless you like it that way.

I pay council tax, I expect the council to use it on salt. I should not have to go out and buy a set of snow tyres, nor will I, because I pay council tax, and they will fix the roads. Simple.

Originally posted by Grifter81
Laws requiring new tyres are no good IMO. Motoring in the UK costs plenty as it is without having to fork out for new seasonal tyres every winter.

You don't have to fork out every winter. But you do have to fork out for changing them if you can't do it yourself.

Originally posted by starchild10

Originally posted by Grifter81
Laws requiring new tyres are no good IMO. Motoring in the UK costs plenty as it is without having to fork out for new seasonal tyres every winter.

You don't have to fork out every winter. But you do have to fork out for changing them if you can't do it yourself.

Id have nowhere to store them mate. Small back yard and no garage. Besides, if im honest we get more mild winters than cold ones so its not justified really.

As previous poster said every household pays council tax so really they should order enough grit/salt.

Originally posted by thoughtsfull

I hope this winter is as much fun

There is always one. Sigh...
Spare a thought for those who actually get to work but have a dangerous trek back. Especially those of us who live in outlying areas. In the real world you can't just ring up your employer and say you are staying home on account of the fact that the weather MIGHT turn bad.
Spare a thought for the thousands of elderly, disabled and sick individuals who can't get out and who need services delivered to their door.
Spare a thought for those with broken bones (or worse) and trashed cars.
Spare a thought for the working mums who can't just take a 'snow day' without losing pay.
I really hope you end up in one of the above categories. It might just help you engage your brain.