Plan Your Travels In The UK Safely
The Highways Agency, which manages England’s motorways and major A roads, is advising people to plan their journeys if they are heading back to work after the Christmas and New Year break.
Demand on the Agency’s website, which gives live traffic information, increased by more than 400 per cent during the pre-Christmas wintry weather as people checked the state of the roads before setting out to visit friends and family.
Denise Plumpton, Director of Information for the Highways Agency, says:
“Our advice is always to plan your journey before you leave, allow plenty of time and check for updates when you take a break.
“It is reassuring that so many people have been checking our website for live traffic updates during the severe weather and we hope this is something they continue to do all year round. Journey planning can help cut congestion, increases fuel economy and reduce emissions, so there are lots of benefits to us all.”
The Agency uses a vast array of technology to provide live traffic updates for its network via websites, phone lines and radio stations, including its own DAB digital station Traffic Radio.
Over this Christmas period traffic volume has been slightly lower on England’s main roads and motorways – perhaps as a result of the difficult driving conditions and people taking note of safety warnings.
Denise adds:
“Salt spreaders and snow ploughs have been working across the country during the festive season and will continue to operate for as the long as the cold weather continues.
“Road users have a part to play too. Even when roads have been treated it is important to drive appropriately for the conditions. Not every journey is essential in severe weather, and we know from research we have carried out that sometimes people head out without taking steps to avoid being caught out.”
In previous years, even without severe weather, the first week of January is a busy time for breakdowns as people travel home and return to work after the winter holiday.
Highways Agency advice is for drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles; and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions and plan their journeys by using its website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic , listening to DAB digital ‘Traffic Radio’ or local radio stations, or by calling the Highways Agency information line (08457 50 40 30).
Topics: 2009, 2010, Britain, car, Christmas, highways, journey, motorist, new years, safe, travel, trip, UK, vehicle
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