North East drivers urged to be safe on roads after snowfall
It could be icy with slush on the roads
Last updated 9th Feb 2024
Drivers in the North East and Teesside are being advised to take it steady on the roads this morning.
Thomas Loach is the spokesperson for the North East there and he said: "We're asking people to stick to the main roads as they're the ones that we can treat, grit, spread salt on and focus our attention on. Slow down in the icy conditions and allow that extra braking time between yourself and the vehicle infront in case you do have to brake suddenly.
"Try and not slam on that brake pedal. It could lock up your wheels causing you to skid further if you're slamming on your brakes and when you're setting back off, take it steady , accelerate gently, use lower revs and try and take off in second gear rather than first."
Warm spaces, like The Shack in Ragworth in Stockton, are open. Jennie Potter is from there and said: "It's been really nice to get to know some more people from our community. People have dropped in or just come to spend some time here. We have a team that just loves people.
"We have everything from community meals like every week you can get a cooked breakfast here, to coffee mornings, drop-ins, there's clubs for pretty much every interest from boardgames to allotment clubs, there are places where you can do crafts and we can do cooking together to save on costs at home.
"We have people of all ages and all stages of life; everything from young mums who come here with their little ones straight from dropping other kids off at school and spending most of the day here, to people who are living alone, some of the elderly of the community would come in for company and there are some people who genuinely love being in the centre of a room surrounded by people.
"This is a space for them. There's no hidden agenda. It's just community doing community. You don't have to struggle alone and you don't have to be alone. Come and find us and come and find a place where you can really belong and be a part of something bigger."