Drivers’ actions have exacerbated disruption on the roads caused by heavy snow, it has been claimed. Greater Manchester Police said ploughing and gritting on the M62 was “severely delayed” by motorists illegally using the hard shoulder and closed lanes.
The RAC said “the situation was made worse” by drivers overtaking other vehicles and getting stuck in fresh snow. Salt spread by gritters does not stop snow from settling on road surfaces, but it does make it easier to remove with snowploughs.
National Highways, the Government-owned company responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, said it was “well prepared” for the conditions and had deployed gritters for the past week. Some vehicles heading east across the Pennines from Greater Manchester on the M62 overnight were stranded for several hours due to the conditions.
