Stay safe on Essex highways this winter

The cold weather is here and Essex Highways’ winter service has officially started. Over the next few months, the team will work closely with expert forecasters to anticipate the threat of freezing weather and ensure necessary measures are in place across the county’s road network to keep people safe.

It is important to take extra care when traveling during the winter months and there are lots of things you can do to protect yourself and others:

• Be prepared – keep an emergency pack in your car, including ice scraper, de-icer, torch, warm clothes, blanket, shovel, food and drink, high visibility jacket and first aid kit
• Be informed – check if the roads you are planning to use are on a salting route and stay up-to-date with the latest information from the Essex Highways travel centre
• Be careful – keep a safe distance from other vehicles, particularly gritters and snow ploughs, be patient and allow extra time for your journey
• Be vigilant – check your car at regular intervals to reduce the likelihood of breaking down in bad weather

Remember, if conditions are bad, you should only travel if absolutely necessary. You can find more winter driving tips on the Essex Highways website and stay up-to-date with the latest highways information, including gritting details, by following @essexhighways and #EssexGritters on Twitter

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