11/12/22 Caution urged when planning journeys during the current spell of wintry weather

Officials from Donegal County Council attended a meeting of the National Emergency Co-Ordination group this morning which was convened in order to co-ordinate the measures being put in place to mitigate the impact of the ongoing spell of wintry weather on public services.  Met Eireann advised the group that the current spell of wintry weather is likely to continue up to and including Friday 16^th December at least. In the short term snow falls are expected in many areas of the county later this evening and overnight with the potential for further snow fall later in the week also.

In Donegal over 1,400kms of our public roads are gritted with 21 designated gritting routes which have been treated 3 times each day for the last number of days and this is likely to continue in the short term.  With snow falls forecast snow ploughs will be mounted on our gritting lorries and additional lorries will be called in to assist in treating our higher volume, higher elevation routes.  Road temperatures around the county remain close to or below freezing, therefore, any snow or rain that falls is likely to freeze causing hazardous driving conditions in particular on untreated surfaces.

Full details of Donegal County Council’s extensive gritting programme can be found on our website here, and updates on gritting are posted on our various social media channels.  The public can also sign up to www.maplerter.ie to receive free text updates on when routes are to be gritted in their area.

Donegal County Council asks the public to plan ahead for any journeys that they intend to take during this spell of wintry weather, in particular please consider if your journey is absolutely necessary. If you must use the car, before you begin your journey consider the following:

• Plan your journey around the roads that are gritted even if this means a longer journey given the risks on untreated surfaces.
• Put a hi-viz jacket, shovel, boots or wellingtons, extra clothing or a blanket and a flask in the boot of the car, in case you do get stuck or have to abandon the car. You should check your tyres – pressure, tread depth (minimum 1.6 millimetres) and condition.
• Clear your windscreen and ensure all your windows are clean and free from snow and bring a scraper and de-icer with you. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision.  Top up your windscreen wash with one that is resistant to low temperatures as spray from roads can obstruct your vision and if your windscreen wash freezes you won’t be able to keep your windscreen clear.
• Check your lights and indicators as falling snow reduces visibility. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged. If your car has rear wheel drive the addition of extra weight in the boot, such as a bag of sand or cement, will help your wheels to grip.
• It takes longer to stop a vehicle in snow or on icy roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking, acceleration or steering as these can induce a skid.  Going uphill use the highest gear possible to reduce the engine revs as this will help avoid wheel spin.  When travelling downhill, especially through a series of bends, select a low gear as early as possible and allow your speed to reduce using the brake pedal gently.

If planning an unavoidable journey on foot pedestrians should be extremely careful as snow and ice can make walking on roads or footpaths very dangerous. Wear sturdy footwear with good gripping soles. Take an extra look before you cross the road and do not attempt to cross the road if there are vehicles around as snow and ice increase the distance that they need to stop. Visibility is reduced in snowy condition so wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch.

Motorcyclists and cyclists should consider their safety before using their motorcycles / bicycles in icy and snowy conditions. Controlling two wheeled vehicles in snowy or icy conditions is extremely difficult and there is an increased danger of a collision with a vehicle that is out of control. Consider taking alternative transport or walking.