Safe Speed Forums

Word has it that if I grit my my path and someone slips and hurt themselves I'm liable whereas if I'd just left it alone I wouldn't. I would I expect the OP query is no different...

Urban myth. Urban myth. Urban myth. Urban myth. Urban myth.

On your own land, it is a different matter. In England and Wales, you owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. So if you know someone is likely to walk up your garden path, like the milkman, and you know it's slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear it and grit it if necessary.

Legal liability unlikely in clearing footpaths of snow
15 December 2010 Last updated at 16:58

Gritter vehicle The Roads Service aims to salt all main roads in an attempt to keep the network open
People who clear footpaths of snow and ice are unlikely to be held liable for accidents, the Roads Minister has said.
Conor Murphy's comments were aimed at householders who feared being held responsible for accidents on footpaths they had cleared.
"There is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice outside your home or business," Mr Murphy said. He said Road Service staff would "work round the clock" to salt main roads during the forthcoming cold spell. "With a forecast for another cold period with a high probability of snow on Thursday, motorists are advised to plan their journeys and check the latest travel advice," Mr Murphy said.
"Roads Service will continue to work around the clock with 300 staff, 120 gritters and 11 snowblowers to focus resources as agreed by the Assembly, in ensuring the main roads which carry 80% of traffic are salted.
"This is a massive logistical task involving staff working night and day to keep the main network open which is particularly important in the run-up to Christmas when more people may be travelling on the busier routes."

He said the Roads Service had continually replenished approximately 3,500 salt bins and 39,000 grit piles for use on a self-help basis to help prevent the formation of snow and ice on pavements and untreated roads.
Mr Murphy said further advice on clearing snow and ice visit was available on the nidirect website.

SNOW AND ICE CLEARANCE MARCH 2008 ISSUE 02

1.0 SNOW AND ICE CLEARANCE
1.1 Each year, many staff and members of the public suffer personal injuries as a consequence of slipping and falling on ice and snow.
1.2 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Occupiers liability Act place a responsibility upon the employer, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the means of access and egress from its premises are maintained in a condition that is safe and without risk to either its employees or other persons.
1.3 The approved code of practice which supports the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations states that "arrangements should be made to minimise risks from snow and ice. This may involve gritting, snow clearing and closure of some routes.….."
1.4 It is a popular misconception that an occupier cannot be held liable for failing to clear snow / ice, but can be held liable once an attempt at clearance has been made and then someone is injured.
The true position is that an occupier can be held liable for ‘failing to act reasonably’ in order to prevent accidents.
1.5 Heads of establishments are responsible for ensuring that the means of access to their establishment is safe for both employees and visitors and that adequate arrangements are made to ensure that the risks from snow and ice are minimised. It is recognised that it is not possible to remove immediately every piece of snow or ice. It does however, require those responsible for premises to exercise careful judgement and prioritise de-icing and salting of key access routes.
1.6 All reasonable efforts should be made to ensure that the establishment remains open as normal.
1.7 Schools should follow the Snowline guidance for severe weather events that culminate in closure.

Well considering that they were only going very carefully, and not 'fast' it is not likely to cause any 'stick' !!

"Roads Service will continue to work around the clock with 300 staff, 120 gritters and 11 snowblowers to focus resources as agreed by the Assembly, in ensuring the main roads which carry 80% of traffic are salted.

Perhaps we should take more responsibility by having a group of neighbours willing to clear their stretch of residential street, support from the council in the form of grit bins and snow shovels would help.

That's what we do round here. Council fills the grit bins. Residents empty them onto the road. Works well.

Pinching the bin would be a theft against the Council. Taking salt for your own drive is not correct - although I now think that there ought to be bins or deliveries to each residential area ...