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Police plea to Highland motorists to rethink planned journeys amid 'heavy snowfall' and 'challenging' conditions


By Philip Murray

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Some areas have seen several inches of snow in the past few days (file photo).
Some areas have seen several inches of snow in the past few days (file photo).

Motorists have been urged to take extra care and consider if their journeys are necessary amid "challenging" ongoing wintry conditions on the region's roads.

Taking to social media shortly after 8am, Police Scotland's Highlands and Islands Division advised that continued "heavy snowfall" was causing issues in various areas of the north.

"Please consider whether your journey is necessary before setting off and drive to the conditions of the roads," they urged.

"If you need to travel please allow extra time for journeys, and plan [your] routes – main roads will be cleared first, however this may take some time.

"Wear comfortable, dry shoes for driving so your feet don't slip on the pedals, check fuel levels to ensure you have more than what is required for your journey in case of unexpected delays, and clear all windows using a scraper and de-icer and wait until the windscreen is fully demisted."

They continued: "If you have to use your brakes, apply them gently.

"Leave plenty of room between other cars [when driving uphill] or wait until it’s clear so you don’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid having to change gear on the hill.

"[When] driving downhill, slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can after the car in front.

"If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. If you have a sack or old rug put in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip."


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