How to Walk and Drive Safely in Snow and Ice

As the temperature drops and winter creeps in, the chances of snow and ice disrupting your day-to-day life increase. Whether it is slowed traffic, delayed public transport, cancelled plans or biscuit shortages, the snow and ice is bound to have some sort of impact on all of us. And while it is always best to remain indoors if it is unsafe to leave your home, sometimes you have to head out in the cold weather – whether that is to complete your commute to work or get food essentials. Regardless of what you need to do, there are five steps you can take to travel safer in the snow and ice.

1. Grit in Advance
2. Use a Snow Shovel and Ice Scraper
3. Optional: Use a Liquid Ice Melt
4. Wear Appropriate Clothing & Footwear
5. Consider Winter Tyres

1. Grit in Advance

Hindsight is 20/20 – and you might be reading this after the snow and ice has done its damage. However, if you do manage to catch the snow and ice before it starts, putting down some grit lowers the freezing point of the moisture on the surface, which stops ice from forming to begin with. This is the most effective method to keep your travel in the snow and ice as safe as possible, as there will be no snow and ice to begin with.

To distribute grit, you can use a handheld or industrial salt spreader to evenly and generously spread the salt over the problem areas. We recommend a salt spreader on wheels for businesses, community buildings, schools and other places with large surface areas to cover. For smaller areas or for household use, a hand-held salt spreader will do the trick. Most communities will have a grit bin for public use, which should mean you have an almost endless supply of grit to use.

If you have caught it too late, you should remove the fresh, loose snow with a snow shovel and then apply your salt or grit directly on the ice underneath. Do not attempt to pour boiling water on the snow, as this can encourage black ice.

2. Use a Snow Shovel and Ice Scraper

Even if you don’t intend to put grit down, a snow shovel still proves to be an essential tool for travelling in the snow and ice. These shovels can be used to scoop and clear accumulated fresh snow from paths and driveways. The safest way to shovel snow is to stretch first, and then bend your knees and lift with your legs.

Likewise, an ice scraper can remove stubborn ice from your car windows and similar surfaces. If you intend to drive in the snow, you must be able to see out of every window to drive so this is an essential. If you’re in a rush, you can speed up this process with the defroster in your car, designed to clear condensation and thaw frost.

3. Optional: Use a Liquid Ice Melt

If you need to clear lots of snow and ice fast, you can also use a liquid ice melt and sprayer. This step is more targeted towards employers or people who own large properties as it is a large piece of equipment with an industrial level sprayer.

It is particularly useful for areas that can’t be salted, like stairways. Liquid ice melt can melt 10mm of ice within 25 seconds and its unique formula can prevent re-freezing for up to 48 hours.

4. Wear Appropriate Clothing & Footwear

It goes without saying but, if you do head out in the snow and ice, make sure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Warm and waterproof clothes, and a pair of winter or snow boots with good grip will keep you warm and safe in the cold weather.

5. Consider Winter Tyres

Much like you, your car could do with some additional layers in the snow and ice. Consider winter or snow tyres, designed to give your tyres much more grip and traction on the roads.

According to Autocar, these work in three ways. The first is that the tread pattern has many more grooves which displace water and help the tyre to bite into snow and ice. Second, winter tyres are made from a compound that has more silica in it, meaning they stay soft and supple and cling to the roads even in freezing temperatures. Finally, winter tyres’ rubber blocks are designed to vibrate when on the move, which means any snow they might have picked up will be shaken out

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At morSafe, we stock all of the supplies that you need to ensure you and your employees can travel to and from work safely, with free next day delivery available.