Snow coverage of the UK
Dec 8th, 2010, 04:58 PM
#21
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Why is there all that snow on the sidewalks? Aren;t people required to shovel?
Here, you have 24 hours after a storm to clear a path on your sidewalks (wether a business, apartment house or private homeowner). If you don;t shovel and someone slips and falls you are automatically negligent and will undoubtedly face very large lawsuits for medical bills and pain and suffering. Also tickets from the police if you don;t shovel.
Here, you have 24 hours after a storm to clear a path on your sidewalks (wether a business, apartment house or private homeowner). If you don;t shovel and someone slips and falls you are automatically negligent and will undoubtedly face very large lawsuits for medical bills and pain and suffering. Also tickets from the police if you don;t shovel.
Dec 8th, 2010, 05:17 PM
#22
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nytraveler, in the UK it's the responsibility of the local council to clear the pavements (sidewalks)not the homeowner.
Actually, if the homeowner does clear their own section of pavement and then someone slips, they are then liable!
Actually, if the homeowner does clear their own section of pavement and then someone slips, they are then liable!
Dec 8th, 2010, 10:59 PM
#23
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"if the homeowner does clear their own section of pavement and then someone slips, they are then liable"
...is an urban myth.
There's been no successful suit since the myth got invented, and our local council hasn't been able to find a single example even of an unsuccesful suit. Our town's lawyers advise that there could only be a suit if the injured person could demonstrate serious negligence by the shoveller. And since there's no culture of individuals carrying absurd levels of public liability insurance, they add it's unlikely any potential plaintiff would find a lawyer prepared to sue on a "no win, no fee" basis.
The simple answer to the American who wanted to know why we don't have American laws is the screamingly obvious one: <b> this isn't America </b>. The more complicated one is <b> Those parts of America that have our climate don't have the laws about street shovelling that Arctic cities like New York have either </b>.
Over the past 150 years, we've no more needed special laws about what to do in deep snow than for handling hurricanes, earthquakes or volcano eruptions. And there's no evidence yet that our climate is changing in such a way that American-style (or German-style) winters are about to become the norm.
...is an urban myth.
There's been no successful suit since the myth got invented, and our local council hasn't been able to find a single example even of an unsuccesful suit. Our town's lawyers advise that there could only be a suit if the injured person could demonstrate serious negligence by the shoveller. And since there's no culture of individuals carrying absurd levels of public liability insurance, they add it's unlikely any potential plaintiff would find a lawyer prepared to sue on a "no win, no fee" basis.
The simple answer to the American who wanted to know why we don't have American laws is the screamingly obvious one: <b> this isn't America </b>. The more complicated one is <b> Those parts of America that have our climate don't have the laws about street shovelling that Arctic cities like New York have either </b>.
Over the past 150 years, we've no more needed special laws about what to do in deep snow than for handling hurricanes, earthquakes or volcano eruptions. And there's no evidence yet that our climate is changing in such a way that American-style (or German-style) winters are about to become the norm.
Dec 9th, 2010, 12:33 AM
#24
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"You should be here in London,Ontario. it is hard for me to feel much sympathy for my fellow Scots."
You are used to it and have systems to cope with it. For us it's an unusual experience, so it's a bit crap.
You are used to it and have systems to cope with it. For us it's an unusual experience, so it's a bit crap.
Dec 9th, 2010, 04:40 AM
#25
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flanner, Urban myth or not it is a very effective deterrent to shoveling (if anyone needs one!). 
The fact that your local council can't find any examples of suits, successful or otherwise is no surprise. Who sues if they slip on a pavement? Likely as not they furtively shuffle off home bruised and embarrassed. God forfend that anyone actually sees them fall and comes to assist!
The fact that your local council can't find any examples of suits, successful or otherwise is no surprise. Who sues if they slip on a pavement? Likely as not they furtively shuffle off home bruised and embarrassed. God forfend that anyone actually sees them fall and comes to assist!
Dec 9th, 2010, 04:47 AM
#26
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alihutch, yes, it's tough with no snow plows! After the first freeze you can guarantee all the salt will have been used up or there won't be enough gritting lorries to make a dent in the ice.
My BIL tried to get to a funeral in Glasgow on Monday (he lives near Bradford) after 12 hours stuck on the road he checked into an hotel at 3.30am. He said he was lucky as some people spent the night in their cars.
I hope the 'unusual experience' is a one off this winter!
My BIL tried to get to a funeral in Glasgow on Monday (he lives near Bradford) after 12 hours stuck on the road he checked into an hotel at 3.30am. He said he was lucky as some people spent the night in their cars.
I hope the 'unusual experience' is a one off this winter!
Dec 9th, 2010, 04:50 AM
#27
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We've been very lucky here in East Anglia/Northern Home Counties, with minor disruption only last week and clear conditions (so far) all this week.
All major roads in the area have been kept snow-free and rail has been more or less on time in the region.
I feel sorry for Scotland and the North-East, which are still having a bad time of it. But have no fear, as the Daily Mash points out, brown sauce airlifts are underway!
PS I also bought crampons last week.
All major roads in the area have been kept snow-free and rail has been more or less on time in the region.
I feel sorry for Scotland and the North-East, which are still having a bad time of it. But have no fear, as the Daily Mash points out, brown sauce airlifts are underway!
PS I also bought crampons last week.
Dec 9th, 2010, 04:51 AM
#28
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I work 12 mins walk down hill from my home. Pavements are treacherous, it's safer to take the car as the roads have been gritted. I know a few people with multiple fractures of legs, falling whilst using the pavements.
I don't know about who is liable for areas outside their property, all I know is that the pavements are not being touched by anyone.
Today is quite warm, driving with the car window open today
Muck
I don't know about who is liable for areas outside their property, all I know is that the pavements are not being touched by anyone.
Today is quite warm, driving with the car window open today
Muck
Dec 17th, 2010, 09:54 AM
#32
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Can't imagine why anyone thinks NYC is arctic. it's a little bit colder than LOndon on average (in the winter) and hotter in the summer. And we're not in the snow belt that's about 100 mile north of here (where it starts to snow in November and yuo don;t se the goufn again until late March or April).
Euroep has an oddly moderate climtae due to the gulf stream - or London would have the climate of Toronto and Rome and Madrid would be like NYC.
And I don;t get calling NYC lke the arctic. there's a big difference between a temperature of 25 degress and one of minus 50 degrees (farenheit) like you find in Siberaia.
And there's nothing that says the climate wil continue the same - we may have global warming - or we may have another mini ice age - like we did in the 1600s (when I understnad hte Thames froze solid).
Euroep has an oddly moderate climtae due to the gulf stream - or London would have the climate of Toronto and Rome and Madrid would be like NYC.
And I don;t get calling NYC lke the arctic. there's a big difference between a temperature of 25 degress and one of minus 50 degrees (farenheit) like you find in Siberaia.
And there's nothing that says the climate wil continue the same - we may have global warming - or we may have another mini ice age - like we did in the 1600s (when I understnad hte Thames froze solid).
Dec 17th, 2010, 11:42 AM
#33
Just spoke to my 87 year old aunt in Wales and she said that 8" of snow fell overnight just as predicted. More on the way apparently. >>
yes, sassy cat - it fell on my DH who drove up to Wales yesterday to bring our DS home [to Cornwall] for Christmas. originally i was going to go today, but we changed our plans due to the forecast - thank goodness. he pnoed this mornnig to say that they had had 6" and it was still snowing. fortunately it stopped and they got home safely, but they encountered more snow en route.
looks like being a white christmas.
yes, sassy cat - it fell on my DH who drove up to Wales yesterday to bring our DS home [to Cornwall] for Christmas. originally i was going to go today, but we changed our plans due to the forecast - thank goodness. he pnoed this mornnig to say that they had had 6" and it was still snowing. fortunately it stopped and they got home safely, but they encountered more snow en route.
looks like being a white christmas.
Dec 17th, 2010, 12:41 PM
#34
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alihutch, grit is good! Let's hope they don't run out of the stuff before the winter is over.
annhig, Glad to hear that your DH and son got home safely and I think it was wise to get ahead of the weather.
My sister was supposed to go to Wales this weekend but will have to postpone till after Christmas now (last time she drove her temperamental Italian car in snow she ended up being towed by a gritting lorry!).
annhig, Glad to hear that your DH and son got home safely and I think it was wise to get ahead of the weather.
My sister was supposed to go to Wales this weekend but will have to postpone till after Christmas now (last time she drove her temperamental Italian car in snow she ended up being towed by a gritting lorry!).
Dec 18th, 2010, 12:50 AM
#35
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Italian cars can come up trumps.
My son had a Fiat Panda when he was a student. He drove it across the Pennines one snowy day and he passed lots of stranded vehicles on the way.
I am expecting my lot from London on Wednesday. Fingers crossed
My son had a Fiat Panda when he was a student. He drove it across the Pennines one snowy day and he passed lots of stranded vehicles on the way.
I am expecting my lot from London on Wednesday. Fingers crossed
Dec 18th, 2010, 01:46 AM
#36
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There was great amusement last year when all the expensive Mercs and Beemers got stuck on the hills. Their rear-wheel drive could not cope narly as well as the cheaper cars, which are front-wheel drive.
I am sat at St Pancras waiting for a Eurostar to Paris. The Eurostar are running about 30 minutes late, and are delayed further by speed restrictions in France. No problem there,except that we have to get another train from Paris to Dijon, where we are booked into a hotel for the night. Guess it's going to be a long day.
I am sat at St Pancras waiting for a Eurostar to Paris. The Eurostar are running about 30 minutes late, and are delayed further by speed restrictions in France. No problem there,except that we have to get another train from Paris to Dijon, where we are booked into a hotel for the night. Guess it's going to be a long day.
Dec 18th, 2010, 07:40 AM
#39
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Our town has been cut off after about a foot of snow in three hours. My profile shows our garden with HALF the amount of snow it's got right now.
Which is creating unpredictable problems. No trains or buses can get to us, so the ploughs have just come through to clear a road for cars. But they've made the town a less safe place: the volume of snow, and the narrowness of the pavements, means it's a great deal tougher to walk (which is obviously how everyone gets about) because the ploughs have piled another foot or two of snow onto the pavements - and there's nowhere to put it.
I suppose the good news is that when people break bones as a result it'll be easier to get them to hospital....
Which is creating unpredictable problems. No trains or buses can get to us, so the ploughs have just come through to clear a road for cars. But they've made the town a less safe place: the volume of snow, and the narrowness of the pavements, means it's a great deal tougher to walk (which is obviously how everyone gets about) because the ploughs have piled another foot or two of snow onto the pavements - and there's nowhere to put it.
I suppose the good news is that when people break bones as a result it'll be easier to get them to hospital....
Dec 18th, 2010, 07:44 AM
#40
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MissP, Fiat Pandas are great. My son's friend drives one and with a couple of mates they often lift it into tiny parking spaces!
My sister drives a swanky Italian car which I won't name as someone will point out their benefits but hers has been notoriously unreliable; calling it a 'lemon' would be overating it!
chartley, hope you make it to Dijon in time for a good nights sleep!
RM67, I'm happy to hear that your crampons are proving useful!
Not so good to hear about cancelled flights though. A cousin and his wife plus their two tiny tots were supposed to fly from Amsterdam to Bristol today. There is an agitated granny who is on pins awaiting their safe arrival... keeping my fingers crossed the snow melts before she has a meltdown.
My sister drives a swanky Italian car which I won't name as someone will point out their benefits but hers has been notoriously unreliable; calling it a 'lemon' would be overating it!
chartley, hope you make it to Dijon in time for a good nights sleep!
RM67, I'm happy to hear that your crampons are proving useful!
Not so good to hear about cancelled flights though. A cousin and his wife plus their two tiny tots were supposed to fly from Amsterdam to Bristol today. There is an agitated granny who is on pins awaiting their safe arrival... keeping my fingers crossed the snow melts before she has a meltdown.
