Salt Spreading - Do I have too much time on my hands?

wonder_lander

wonder_lander

wonder_lander

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Joined
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Posts
5,586
Location
Stone, Staffordshire
I had noticed, as I'm sure most of you did too, that in winter 2009 the motorway signs that used to say "Gritting in Progress" were changed to "Salt Spreading"

I decided to dispatch an e-mail to the Highways Agency and here is the response

Dear Sir / Madam,
I would class myself as a motorway “Power user” and as such feel that I have observed a change in motorway sign notices and was wondering why there has been a change in terminology.

For as long as I remember the motorway road signs have read “Gritting in Progress” but since winter 2009 I noticed that these have changed to “Salt Spreading”. Whilst I appreciate that there is no grit actually involved in the process of protecting our highways I just wanted to understand the reason for the change in wording and whether there was more to it other than to better reflect what was actually being done?

I appreciate that you may be very busy with enquiries at the moment so there is no rush for a reply but I would appreciate a response when time allows.

Best wishes

Admiinistrator
www.windscreenwipers.org.uk
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And this was their reply:
Dear Administrator.

Thank you for your e-mail to the Highways Agency Information Line of 07/01/2010 in which you raise the following issue;

The reason for the change of terminology to "salt spreading".
In answer to your e-mail I am able to provide the following response;
In the United Kingdom, salt (sodium chloride) is specified for general use as a de-icing agent on highways. In the past, grit (sand and small stones) was sometimes spread on roads to give vehicles a better grip on snowy or icy surfaces. The crushed rock salt that we now use is still routinely described as ‘grit’, and our winter fleet as ‘gritters’. Although commonly used, those terms are inaccurate, hence the change of terminology.

Should you have any further questions about the above issue or any other Highways Agency related issues please contact us via e-mail or telephone on 0845 7 50 40 30.

Yours sincerely.
Iain Ross
Tel: 08457 50 40 30
E-mail: [email protected]
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So there you go. The great mystery resolved!
 
I got pebble dashed by a gritter the other day and that wasn't the kind of salt you put on your bloody chips! 3rd time already but unavoidable in these rural areas.
 
I must admit, I had noticed this change in terminology, too.


However, up to, and including, now, I had no inclination whatsoever to know as to why.


I feel that my life is somehow more complete than it previously was.


Thank you, wonder_lander.
 
Can you ask them how many more accidents are caused by idiots slowing down to read the information on the signs and why they think its a good idea to constantly display rubbish information on them.

The amount of tailback and sudden slowdowns caused by dimwitted idiots due to the above is beyond belief.
 
Thanks for asking them that, I'll rest easier at night knowing this now :D ...I just love random trivia like this, then again I'm a pub quizz buff so I guess that's expected.
 
Disapointing indeed, your website does not do wipers for my car apparently, you list the Jaguar XJ only upto 2003, so the X308 model, nothing for the X350, Halfords don't do them either. Finding wipers and bulbs for the Jag is a pain in the rear, you'ed think I drove some unheard of exotic, not something that was built down the road :( ..I don't need new wipers btw, I bought some from another website a couple of months ago, I was just curious as to weather you did them since I found them so hard to find in the usual places.
 
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Moeks said:
Disapointing indeed, your website does not do wipers for my car apparently, you list the Jaguar XJ only upto 2003, so the X308 model, nothing for the X350, Halfords don't do them either. Finding wipers and bulbs for the Jag is a pain in the rear, you'ed think I drove some unheard of exotic, not something that was built down the road :( ..I don't need new wipers btw, I bought some from another website a couple of months ago, I was just curious as to weather you did them since I found them so hard to find in the usual places.
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OT But I can't find any info on wipers for your car and have checked with Bosch. Are they Jag only blades?
 
wonder_lander said:
OT But I can't find any info on wipers for your car and have checked with Bosch. Are they Jag only blades?
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Well they are specific to this car, Trico make some that fit, which is what I have on now. They have the spray nozzles on the arms, with a pipe running the length so they activate and spread the water across the screen as they spray.

They are TRICO EF603 and EF453 with integrated spray bar.

I don't know if it's worth you stocking them, but just a suggestion anyway, I bet a lot of owners just pay Jaguar a fortune for them, but there is no need for that, and as the cars get older and more budget conscious owners buy them I suspect more people will be looking to deal with things like new wiper blades and bulbs themselves rather than pay Jaguar a fortune to do it
 
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I was going to say the same thing! Subtle indeed but I wonder how many people clicked on the link ;)
 
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