IAM urges UK councils not to cut winter road services spending

Date: 1/11/2011

A road safety charity has warned that Britain's roads will become more hazardous for motorists once the frost begins to bite and local council cuts come into effect.

According to the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM), many councils are planning to cut back on winter road services such as gritting, despite the fact that the last two winters have taken their toll on roads with severe snow and ice.

Last year, figures suggest there was a 37 per cent increase in the number of cars having accidents resulting in overturning due to snow and ice.

With estimates suggesting a 3.6 per cent cut in spending for salting and snowploughing roads, the charity warned that this cut is made all the more significant when the effects of inflation are factored in.

Simon Best, Chief Executive of the IAM, said: "Roads are essential for the economy – not only in rural areas where cars are the only way to get around but also on the main routes that keep our economy moving.

"Ambulances, supermarket food deliveries, meals on wheels, utilities, even the armed forces, all rely on having a usable road network."

Posted by Mary Treen