Winter Travel Advice from the Highways Agency

WITH WINTER officially arriving in the form of snow and ice (the photo shows the scene in Hedon at 7am this morning), then motorists should heed the advice on the Highways Agency website:

Don't just drive, prepare.

Putting aside ten minutes to plan your journey before you set off could make all the difference. Check your planned route at http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx where you can find up-to-date traffic information. You should also check your vehicle is ready for the drive by checking the condition of your tyres as well as making sure your windscreen and lights are clean.

As you pack your gifts, for a long winter journey, you should pack your emergency kit in your car. This simple array of everyday household items could be your salvation if you get caught out by adverse weather conditions on the journey. You only need to pack it once at the beginning of the season leaving you with one less thing to worry about this winter.

So whenever you plan to drive this season, make time for winter.

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Accident Blackspot: Road Hauliers warn that Hedon Road stretch is "not fit for purpose"

AFTER YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT involving a lorry on the A1033/A63 Hedon Road roundabout then East Yorkshire road hauliers have warned that the particular stretch of road is not fit for purpose.


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Three accidents have taken place recently involving lorries shedding their loads - one leaving a cyclist dead.

Now leading industry website RoadTransport.Com has reported that local haulage firms are calling on the Highways Agency to carry out a review to tackle the problem - despite the road having been the subject of road improvements in 2003.

The website quotes AR Lunn Managing Director, Andrew Lunn:

"It can be clearly seen on sections of each roundabout that the cambers change quickly from one side to the other, which will not help a fully-laden vehicle with an unknown centre of gravity that could potentially be high."

Yet a report produced by the Highways Agency in 2008 revealed that after 5 years the road improvement scheme was considered a success and had achieved all its objectives. The number of accidents in the five years after opening "decreased, at a statistically significant level". And furthermore that accident savings had been greater than predicted, with accident numbers being considerably lower than forecast.

Obviously, in the light of the recent accidents then a review of road safety will be very much welcomed by those living in HU12 and surrounding areas who regularly use that route to commute.

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