Pedro Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Every bloody year in Essex they go mad with the grit at the slightest hint of a frost. It must cost thousands of pounds, ruins my bike and car and does god knows what to the enviroment. Other countries get away without using it so why can't we? Personally I think the gritting lorry drivers do it just to get some overtime MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 it all depends if you like driving on black Ice, I'd prefer a bit of grit down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 I'd choose grit over black ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myuserid Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL You wouldn't be saying that when your in a ditch! Other countries get away without using it so why can't we? Most countries are warm and dont have snow & ice during the winter. Name one country that has ice/snow and doesn't grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piebob Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Canada? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 I agree - all cold weather countries grit. They are getting better finer and greater ability to direct the grit better...but still too much goes down...but overall I am in favour - even though two years ago a gritter sandblasted my bonnet, offside, and incredibly roof - causing £100's of paint damage! Got a classic car by any chance?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 The funny bit is when you see them out in March , at the slightest hint of a mild frost. When I spoke to a Councillor friend about this, he seriously said that they had to run down their stocks of grit/salt to make room for the supplies that would be delivered for next Winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 The funny bit is when you see them out in March , at the slightest hint of a mild frost. When I spoke to a Councillor friend about this, he seriously said that they had to run down their stocks of grit/salt to make room for the supplies that would be delivered for next Winter. That sounds about right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 When I spoke to a Councillor friend about this, he seriously said that they had to run down their stocks of grit/salt to make room for the supplies that would be delivered for next Winter. When I worked for 6 months in a local council they certainly didn't do that. Plus, Councillors get fed all sorts of rubbish by staff just wanting them off their back...if you want the truth go straight to the horses mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Thats what I like to here good old fashioned horse sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 I voted for. Round our way trying to get the ******* to put any down is a major achievement, and why is it that when they do start gritting the temperature has already fallen below freezing and black ice has already formed. Common sense dictates that you put it down before it starts to freeze to ensure you don't get black ice. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 The funny bit is when you see them out in March , at the slightest hint of a mild frost. When I spoke to a Councillor friend about this, he seriously said that they had to run down their stocks of grit/salt to make room for the supplies that would be delivered for next Winter. When I spoke to a Councillor friend about this, he seriously said that they had to run down their stocks of grit/salt to make room for the supplies that would be delivered for next Winter. When I worked for 6 months in a local council they certainly didn't do that. Plus, Councillors get fed all sorts of rubbish by staff just wanting them off their back...if you want the truth go straight to the horses mouth. :blink: i believe that in the past the grit would get used at unusual times due to the fact that they are only allowed to top up to the original amount.ie if they only use 500 tons , then they can only have 500 tons for next year. in reality the stuff that's been sitting around for a couple of years is next to useless , the salt , molasses and other additives , has been washed out and it's not nearly as effective but can't be replaced due to cost. another reason is that gritting vehicles do have a very short but hard lifespan , they still need to be maintained and tested at regular intervals though. they tend to get tested at night , otherwise , hundreds of ratepayers are on the phone to their councillors wanting to know why their money is being wasted on grit in the middle of june. it's very true that councillors do get told what they want to hear , in my limited experience , most councillors are more interested in getting their picture in the paper rather than achieving anything practical that will help a ratepayer. i for one wouldn't want the responsibility of sending out the gritters , the cost is massive and it's almost impossible to make the correct call. information is obtained from the met office but if that info is out by just one degree then you have either spent thousands of pounds that didn't need spending , or , your just a few minutes too late with the grit and the roads are already covered in ice. another thing to consider , once that grit has gone onto the roads , it's got to be cleaned up , you can't just leave thousands of tons of grit on dry roads , it would be like driving on marbles. not a rant , just a bit of what i see with my own eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 You would appreciate the value of gritting if you ever had the misfortune to go down a 1:5 in a wagon full of LPG cylinders, with a drystone wall at the bottom, and a river in flood on the other side of the wall. Talk about white knuckle. I was the passenger, and had wound down my window ready for a quick exit. The driver was too scared to let go of the steering wheel to wind his window down, despite the fact that the steering was useless. Notice I didnt say that we drove the wagon down, because most of the trip was conducted on the diagonal, and neither brakes nor steering had much effect. We eventually gained some grip thanks to someone who had thrown their fire ashes into the road. They now grit that road, but only because it now forms part of a bus route. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Webber, your experience reminded me of one Xmas as a lad when we were coming home from my Uncle's place. My father was driving in his range rover (old classic type) with spiked ice tyres on (he had been lent them from the place who were refurb'ing his alloys) - came round the corner in the road and hit black ice...a lot of swerving later somehow we came out the other side...but like you say steering is useless, everyones a passenger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 We're right beside the sea so it doesn't get all that cold over here anyhow so they mostly salt if it gets icy but given the choice between ice and grit I'd like the grit please. Getting you car sandblasted is bad but getting a truck skidding into the side of it would be a bit worse I'd imagine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 i allways know when it s gonna snow ,if gritters out it aint,and the one night the gritters dont get about,itll snow all night ,gaurenteed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerico Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 For it if they did every road, A few years ago four days after it had snowed I pulled into a road that had not been done and the bike did a 180 on it's side coming to a stop about 15 yards uphill with me still attached. I was doing less than 20mph. Funny thing is I was on my way to work at Southend Hospital Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted November 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Most of you talk of black ice and I'd tend to agree with you on that score - WHEN THE BLOODY ROADS ALREADY WET! We're in the middle of a gorgeous dry spell and all the salt does it attract more flippin moisture and make wet bits where ordinarily it would be lovely and dry. ******* were out again tonight on the way home I had to wash the bike just now 'cos it was covered in the dastardly stuff P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Outlaw Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 The problem where we live is that they start gritting at the depot and by the time they get here they have run out. Then they go all the way back fill up and come out again. Normally by then the black ice has got a grip and the ditches are full of ******** that cant drive properly. I learnt to drive on a grass track banger cicuit so I can cope a bit better when it gets a bit slippy. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 people who drive to work early in the morning appreciate the gritters! If you see one, hang back from it so you dont get showered. Most of them will wait until it is safe for you to pass and then switch the spreader off, allowing you to pass. in my experience anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 I used to do the job the salt in it only works to -5 after that its the agrogate that provides the traction between the road surface and your wheels It is a nesasarry part of winter maintanance to the high way I was once asked what the best way to evertake a gritter was my reply was if i was you and wanted to live and not die in an rta i would stay behind it My late pal was a gritter driver. When I was a young teacher and keen to get into school in bad snow, he'd call at the house and TAKE me there! God bless him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nav54 Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 round are way they either grit far to early or far to late like you say does no good for the paint. If they do it to early the grit is more slippery than the ice that comes later anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19_Ferrets Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 it all depends if you like driving on black Ice, I'd prefer a bit of grit down BLIMEY - took me a few mins to read your sentence - i was watching your AVATAR - hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted November 16, 2007 Report Share Posted November 16, 2007 it all depends if you like driving on black Ice, I'd prefer a bit of grit down As she got a bit of grit down there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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