Difficulty getting to work

diystarter7

throughtheblue said:

diystarter7 said:

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

The highlighted bit.  Difficult to prove many times as it depends on ones driving ability/confidence etc.

The last place of work in London for me - I travelled by car from the edge of London, a few near me did not cited "adverse" weather. (I worked for the council they accepted my reasons easily)

Another time, two people lived on the same road, a bit of snow, one got to work and other claimed "adverse weather" though they got paid there was always chatter about this in the office.

Unless roads are blocked and or there is black ice, it is difficult for an employer.

The funny thing about my workplace was -  when there was snow for a few days in London bordering couty - they wanted you to come in after the first day of heavy snow etc but they deemed it to dangerous to carry out visits.

Companies have policies and OP needs to call them and see what they say

OP, if you can't get in and don't feel safe, call them and tell them as they may lay on a cab etc or just say stay at home take a hol day off etc. Either way, good luck and I know is worrying as I have said above when some can get in from close to where you live or similar settings and others don't - don't worry, please give them a call I'm sure they will sort something out

Take care, OP

I live in Scotland, in an area quite high which is prone to snow. I have to get out of my drive which is probably 100 metres, over a little bridge and up a hill. Right now there is complete covering of quite thick snow. Part of my journey has been gritted, but where I cross into a different county, it hasn't been gritted. I got the bus yesterday, and it unnerving, felt the wheels slip a couple of times and bus quite rightly going extremely slow. My main worry is accidents, getting stranded and the extra costs. 

Ironically, I have the car booked in for all-season tyres on Wednesday, which would help me feel confident to drive.

I would say, without the bus, I probably couldn't even get safely out the drive. If I started sliding back down the hill going towards the bridge, then the car could be written off as there is a 5 ft drop, and no side barriers on the bridge.

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

Apologies if I've got it wrong, but did you edit your post please?

Apols again I you have not.

Take care

No edits to original posts. Thanks for your replies, I will maybe see if a colleague could take me in a couple of nights. 

Hi OP

Many thanks for responding to my posts, appreciated

Ring your employer and see what they say

Good idea with a mate

Re "all-season tyres" - when I used to own rear wheel automatics Mercedes - even a sprinkle of snow could unerve the car but I
got some really great 'Winter Tyres'  - the car drove better than most 4x4 cars and it was an automatic rear wheel car. I did tell my insurance co re the change

Good luck and stay safe and I hope your employer can give you a piece of mind for the winter this and the following years

Sadly, at times it is not just the employer that can make you feel bad but some of those that work with you if they can get in and you can't. What they forget is we are all different, different cars and you have given a good example re getting your car out as this is what happened to the two co-workers of mine, ie one could get their car out and the other could not do it safley.

Have a good weekend



ps - years ago I just paid someone a few quid to go to work - their car was warmed up and we had a nice chat on the way down and back  -  possibly you should try that longer term if it can be arranged

throughtheblue

Just for reference, this is the level of snow to get out onto the road.

diystarter7

throughtheblue said:

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

Mainly because my car has summer tyres, and I presume buses/taxi may be more prepared. I'm surprised the buses are running where I am, but this area does get snow, so maybe it's common to be prepared. The bus was crawling along, and at 8pm last night, the snow was settling on the main road, and other roads hadn't been gritted. 
Once my all-season tyres are on, then I should be more prepared.

Hi again

Please consider winter tyres - but you need to tell insurance and then most people change them come better weather so costs and storage to consider but all season better than summer

diystarter7

throughtheblue said:

Just for reference, this is the level of snow to get out onto the road.

Thank you.
Please be very careful - looks good but going to work, not so good
Enjoy your day and if I was you, I'd have a chat with my manager.

throughtheblue

diystarter7 said:

throughtheblue said:

GrumpyDil said:

It would probably help to understand how bad the conditions are by you. 
I'm outside Peterborough and whilst it's cold the conditions are nowhere near beeing too bad to drive. But we do have bad weather policies and if they became too bad to safely drive to work then there is room for negotiation around working time back etc.

That said can I ask why it would be unsafe for you to drive when you seem to think buses and taxis would be safe. 

Mainly because my car has summer tyres, and I presume buses/taxi may be more prepared. I'm surprised the buses are running where I am, but this area does get snow, so maybe it's common to be prepared. The bus was crawling along, and at 8pm last night, the snow was settling on the main road, and other roads hadn't been gritted. 
Once my all-season tyres are on, then I should be more prepared.

Hi again

Please consider winter tyres - but you need to tell insurance and then most people change them come better weather so costs and storage to consider but all season better than summer

Ordered all-season tyres, but also ordered some snow socks, so hopefully that will get me by.

TELLIT01

Very easy to say with the benefit of hindsight, but the time to consider the potential access problems with a property is before you buy/rent it.

diystarter7

TELLIT01 said:

Very easy to say with the benefit of hindsight, but the time to consider the potential access problems with a property is before you buy/rent it.

Hi

Hindsight is a great thing but I did and do.  ( what is at times obvious to others may not be to me) We wanted to move to Tunbridge Wells but the driving distance for work on a 5 days  basis was too much,

Whenever I've bought a house to live in we look at the access to the house and if needing could it be easily improved for as one gets older, snow ice.
We consider the angles of our drive, access to main road as during snow side roads are rarely used or a close get ignored as main roads are rightly so prioritised.

However, OP is doing well to address this and I know you do as well, we wish her all well and safe travelling at all times.

I posted about it, the rear-wheel cars I had and they were automatics - we don't often get snow that sticks around but when we moved to the new house, just getting up the old drive a slop I did not even note was a challenge once car stopped and wanted to  move again Thankfully we've done a new drive and better cars 4x4 all season tyres now and even these cars have special settings for snow etc.

Thanks

theoretica

Could you - when in no rush and with maybe a lot of shovelling move your car to a parking space it would be easier to get out of?

comeandgo

I also stay rural Scotland with our lovely snow and lack of gritters and would highly suggest winter tyres.  These snow socks are not very good and a faff to get on especially when it’s absolute hail and cold and then take off when you reach clear gritted roads.  Are you able to leave your car at the end of your road and walk to it?  The other option, though more expensive, is get a 4 x 4.  It’s what we have had to do.

marmite1979

You live in Scotland and only just realised it sometimes snows in Winter, where did you live before?
I think you may want to keep to yourself the expectation of being paid extra to travel by another means if you also drive a ''Chelsea Tractor'' you are likely to become the source of jokes.