South Lanarkshire Council has celebrated ‘Winter Awareness Week’ by sharing a range of tips to keep locals safe during the cold months.
The council’s annual ‘Winter Awareness Week’ kicked off on Monday, and as it comes to an end, the local authority has shared some helpful advice to keep residents safe.
A series of topics have been covered by the council including driving in the winter, tips on how to plan ahead and advice for possible flooding.
The council have announced it will provide a dedicated gritter tracking map to allow drivers to see the routes gritters are taking.
It also provided advice for driving in snowy and icy conditions – including clearing any snow from cars before driving, avoiding harsh steering, braking and acceleration and to be vigilant of black ice.
Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “Hopefully people are now used to our gritter tracking map, which lets you see exactly where our gritting fleet is at any given point in the day.
“The dedicated drivers are out there no matter the road conditions, so although this is a fun and interactive way to keep in touch with what is going on, it also has a serious message.
“Our staff deserve a huge amount of credit for their hard work, professionalism and dedication.”
The council have also urged residents to plan ahead before setting off on any journeys. Locals are asked to check the forecast and South Lanarkshire Council’s Roads Twitter feed for any issues during the winter months.
Another challenge the council raised awareness for was flooding. Councillor Brown added: “When we think of winter most people immediately associate the season with snow, ice and low temperatures.
“Although it is of course important to be aware of the risks these conditions can cause, flooding because of severe rainfall can also pose significant risks during this time.
“Flooded roads and heavy rain can create a risk of skidding, impaired road vision or a lane suddenly blocked by flooding. It is equally important to be cautious when flooded roads are a risk as when they are icy.
“During severe flooding, we will work with colleagues in the police and fire services to assess the situation.
“If the situation demands it, we can co-ordinate reception centres and even arrange temporary accommodation if people need evacuated from their homes.”
Flood alerts are provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency who also work with the police to identify any flood risks.
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