-
Last winter 530 gritters covered over 1.5 million
miles- the equivalent of driving around the Earth more than 60
times.
-
Teams are ready to spread more than 250,000 tonnes of
salt this winter to keep England's roads safe and
moving.
-
Between December 2024 and February 2025 67,768
breakdowns were recorded.
As winter takes hold and temperatures drop, National Highways is
preparing a nationwide operation to help keep England's motorways
and major A-roads safe - whatever the weather.
Last winter alone, National Highways' fleet of 530 gritters
covered more than 1.5 million miles, the equivalent of driving
around the Earth over 60 times.
Each gritter can weigh anything from 18 - 26 tonnes fully loaded,
with the largest able to carry 11 tonnes of rock salt. In total,
teams carried out more than 23,000 gritting runs during the
winter to keep traffic flowing safely.
Darren Clark, Severe Weather Resilience Adviser at
National Highways, said:
“Our work through the colder months is about more than just
keeping traffic moving - it's about keeping the country
connected. Our network of 4,500 miles of motorways and A roads
are the backbone of the nation's supply chains, ensuring
life-saving medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, fuel, chemicals,
and food reach every corner of England, even in severe weather.
For example, hospital oxygen supplies often travel from Scotland
via the M6 and A1, so it's vital these routes remain open to keep
critical deliveries moving.
“This preparation is a huge undertaking and begins months in
advance to keep commuters moving, help millions visit friends and
family, and help carry two-thirds of all freight that supports
trade and investment across the UK. And none of that stops in
winter.”
This year, frontline teams could use more than 250,000 tonnes of
salt throughout the winter period to treat England's motorways
and major A-roads as needed. Over the past five years, an average
of 126,500 tonnes has been spread, with the winter of 2020–21
peaking at 196,000 tonnes.
More than 120 salt depots are stocked and ready, supported by a
sophisticated network of over 200 weather monitoring stations
that feed real-time data into control centres across England.
Last winter, National Highways teams reviewed 2,500 weather
forecasts, turning those insights into over 900 road treatment
plans being put into action.
Just as our teams and equipment are ready for whatever winter
brings, drivers are being urged to check their vehicles, plan
their journeys and make sensible choices when conditions turn
challenging. Between December 2024 and February 2025, there were
67,768 recorded breakdowns, highlighting the importance of
preparation, such as checking your vehicle and the weather
forecast, during the colder months.
As winter begins and road conditions become more unpredictable,
National Highways is launching its annual winter T.R.I.P.
campaign to encourage drivers to prepare for journeys properly,
as colder weather sets in and road conditions become more
challenging with the likes of snow, ice, and rain.
Stevenson, Road Safety Information
Lead at National Highways, added:
“Winter can throw all sorts at us, but together we can help to
make journeys safe and smooth as possible Our dedicated teams
will be out day and night to keep our roads clear and reliable -
and we're reminding every driver to do their bit by following our
T.R.I.P. advice and be prepared for winter, not caught out by it.
Simple steps like checking your vehicle, packing a winter
emergency kit can all help drivers to be safe when faced with
snow, ice, or heavy rain.”
The acronym T.R.I.P. promotes four simple steps to prepare
drivers using motorways and major A roads this winter:
- Top-up: Fuel, oil, and screen wash
- Rest: Plan regular stops every two hours to avoid driver
fatigue
- Inspect: Check tyre pressure and tread
- Prepare: Have a plan for severe weather conditions
Winter conditions can be extreme. Last winter, the A66 Old
Spittal Farm recorded the lowest road surface temperature at
-9.2C on 11 January 2025, while the national average low dipped
to -4.8C the night before. Despite freezing conditions and five
named storms over the 2024-25 winter period, the network remained
open and resilient thanks to the coordinated response.
Notes to editors:
The T.R.I.P. campaign is part of National Highways' ongoing
commitment to safer roads, aiming to keep traffic moving smoothly
and minimise weather-related incidents.
