South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
News
26 Sep 2023
STORM AGNES WARNING
Road users in South Yorkshire are being advised to prepare for Storm Agnes which is expected to bring a spell of strong and disruptive winds through Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday.
A yellow wind and rain weather warning for our county has been issued covering the period from noon tomorrow (Wednesday 27 September) to 7am on Thursday 28 September.
Please only travel if it is essential.
What to expect:
Maintain your vehicle: Before you head off, it’s best to be prepared. Pack an emergency travel kit. Check your lights and tyres and clear your windscreens.
Leave extra time: Whenever you’re planning to travel, don’t be in a rush. During winter months, conditions can be tricky – if you’re running late, it might be tempting go faster than is safe in the conditions. Make the journey as smooth as possible and get there in plenty of time.
Consider investing in winter tyres: Winter tyres are tyres designed to provide maximum traction on roads. They're not just for vans, taxis and other commercial vehicles. They are also great for private cars and can help you stop sooner - reducing your stopping distance by up to 40%.
Drive to the conditions of the road: Leave extra stopping distance from the vehicle in front, keep both hands on the wheel and take your time. It’s better to arrive later and safely, rather than the alternative.
Listen to your local radio stations / check online for any road closures.
If you don't have essentials in your car then pack for the worst (warm clothing, food, drink, blanket, torch)
Take a fully charged mobile phone with an in-car charger or battery pack
Driving safely in strong wind:
Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely by:
A yellow wind and rain weather warning for our county has been issued covering the period from noon tomorrow (Wednesday 27 September) to 7am on Thursday 28 September.
Please only travel if it is essential.
What to expect:
- Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible
- Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen
- Some power cuts are likely to occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. Some roads and bridges are likely to close
- There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life that could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, with a chance of some minor flooding of coastal roads
Maintain your vehicle: Before you head off, it’s best to be prepared. Pack an emergency travel kit. Check your lights and tyres and clear your windscreens.
Leave extra time: Whenever you’re planning to travel, don’t be in a rush. During winter months, conditions can be tricky – if you’re running late, it might be tempting go faster than is safe in the conditions. Make the journey as smooth as possible and get there in plenty of time.
Consider investing in winter tyres: Winter tyres are tyres designed to provide maximum traction on roads. They're not just for vans, taxis and other commercial vehicles. They are also great for private cars and can help you stop sooner - reducing your stopping distance by up to 40%.
Drive to the conditions of the road: Leave extra stopping distance from the vehicle in front, keep both hands on the wheel and take your time. It’s better to arrive later and safely, rather than the alternative.
Listen to your local radio stations / check online for any road closures.
If you don't have essentials in your car then pack for the worst (warm clothing, food, drink, blanket, torch)
Take a fully charged mobile phone with an in-car charger or battery pack
Driving safely in strong wind:
Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely by:
- Driving slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts
- Be aware of high sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads
- Be cautious overtaking high sided vehicles/caravans
- Make sure you hold the steering wheel firmly
- Give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses more room than usual
Avoiding injury if you're out and about:
Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees.
For more information visit: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/stay-safe-in-strong-wind#driving_safely