Road Safety in Severe Weather
Winter Service Plan
Longford County Council's Winter Service Plan 2023-2024 outlines a framework for a planned and coordinated response to winter weather conditions that may impact the county's national, regional and local road network. Find out more about this Winter Service Plan.
Be Winter Ready
The Government's Be Winter Ready campaign provides road safety advice, as well as other guidance to help everyone through the colder months.
Road safety advice in the latest Be Winter Ready booklet (pages 22-28) includes:
- Checking if your vehicle is winter-ready
- Having emergency equipment in your car
- Planning a journey in winter
- Driving safely in hazardous conditions
- Being aware of vulnerable road users
Driving in hazardous conditions
Firstly consider if you need to travel or if you could delay your journey until the weather and road conditions improve.
If you must drive, ensure your vehicle is well prepared, including more than enough fuel and emergency equipment (detailed on page 23 of the Be Winter Ready booklet).
Allow extra time and drive with caution. Let someone know your route and when you expect to arrive.
The best road conditions are likely to occur between 10am and 4pm.
Check to see if there are any problems on your intended route before you leave. For this, check Longford County Council's Facebook or X (Twitter) page, local road or traffic.tii.ie.
Check met.ie for weather updates and warnings.
Driving in strong winds: Beware of fallen trees or other debris and high-sided vehicles, particularly when overtaking. If you are driving a high-sided vehicle, try to anticipate exposed sections of road where winds will be stronger
Driving in fog: Turn on your fog lights but remember to turn them off when the fog clears.
Driving with sug glare: This can dazzle drivers. Minimise risk by reducing speed. You should also keep your windscreen clean inside and out and keep a pair of sunglasses in your vehicle.
Flooded roads: Never drive through flooded roads. The water could be deeper than you think. Find an alternative route.
Snow and ice: Fully remove snow and ice from the roof of your vehicle before you depart. Drive with caution. Never assume a road has been treated with salt. Try to stick to main roads. Avoid mountainous areas and higher grounds.
Vulnerable Road Users
If walking: be careful when crossing the road. Use pedestrian crossings where available. Use a footpath where one is available. If there is no footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing traffic and do not walk in the street.
If cycling: People who cycle should ensure that they and their bike are visible to other road users by investing in a good set of front and rear lights. Take care in windy or icy conditions. Wear a helmet.
If riding a motorcycle: You should make sure to wear protective equipment and high visibility clothing to make sure they can be seen. Slow down and ease off the throttle.
