Road gritting in the UK: Who is liable?

Why is gritting the roads important?

Gritting roads and pavements is a simple, yet effective way of protecting them from becoming slippery and dangerous in cold, wet conditions. 

Spreading Grit Salt, which consists largely of rock salt and reduces the freezing temperature of moisture in ice, helps to melt away frozen water from roads and paths, making them less slippery for drivers, pedestrians and other users. 

Roads and paths left untreated can be hazardous, presenting potential dangers that could cause road traffic accidents and incidents involving slips, trips and falls which may result in serious injury. 

Who is responsible for gritting roads and pavements? Councils or the public? 

You may think that it is the responsibility or duty of our councils to ensure that all roads are gritted in preparation for, or in response to, freezing weather conditions. 

It may then come as a surprise to learn that in fact the UK's highways authorities are actually responsible for around nine out of every ten miles of road, with agencies across England and Wales gritting an average of 41% of the country's roads. This of course means that around 60% of roads are not gritted by councils and authorities.  

Pavements are considered highways, and as such are considered the responsibility of councils. The decision on whether to grit or clear a pavement depends on how often it is used, and other factors such as whether other routes are available. Generally efforts are made to do so when it is deemed suitable or necessary. 

When possible, the public are encouraged to - while not having any legal responsibility to do so - get involved in the ‘public spirit' and help to clear roads and pathways where suitable, applying common sense. With this in mind, councils will often supply Grit Salt in residential areas, stored in grit boxes, for the public to use.

What about any liability?

Liability for not gritting roads and paths, and any accidents that may occur due to slippery driving or walking conditions, varies. 

If an accident occurs on an ungritted road or highway that is the responsibility of the council or highways agency to clear or grit, they may be liable, depending on circumstances. 

The public has no responsibility to grit or clear any roads or pavements, however they must not clear any snow or ice onto any roads or paths (this rule applies to all, not just the public). If a member of the public was, for example, to move snow from their own driveway onto a public path, and someone was to fall because of it, they may be liable for the accident. 

For employers, rules are slightly more strict, in line with Workplace Health and Safety regulations. When it comes to clearing or gritting snow or ice, employers are required to do so to ensure floors, pathways, access roads and car parks are safe for all to use, with minimal risk of accidents at work, such as slips, trips and falls.

Which roads are gritted by councils and authorities? 

Councils and relevant authorities grit around 225,000 miles of the road network in England and Wales. These roads include:

• ‘major' roads such as motorways and dual carriageways 
• roads that provide access to emergency services and public services 
• roads that serve as bus and public transport routes
• roads to schools and educational establishments
• routes into important industrial areas
• high traffic routes

You can find out which roads and pavements are gritted in specific areas via the government website.

What about local roads?

Unless they're on a route such as those listed above, local and residential roads will likely not be gritted by the council or authorities. In some cases this will simply be because it is impractical to do so, as the roads are too narrow or inaccessible for a gritting lorry. 

As previously mentioned, such roads will usually feature a council-supplied grit box for the public to use, to help keep their residential streets and pavements clear from snow and ice. 

What accidents could occur on an ungritted road or pavement?

All manner of accidents and incidents could occur on ungritted roads and pavements in winter. 

On roads that haven't been gritted, and have been subjected to wet, snowy or icy weather, there is an increased risk of road traffic accidents involving a variety of vehicles. 

When roads are wet or icy, they become slippery. Slippery roads make for difficult driving conditions, reducing the amount of control drivers have when accelerating, steering and braking. Driving without care and attention, combined with the additional risks of tricky weather and roads, can be an accident waiting to happen. It's the same story for pavements, too. Snowy, icy and wet paths can be pretty treacherous to walk on, so it is important to be careful when getting about, looking out for particularly icy patches and areas of deep snow that could catch you out. Slips, trips and falls are common in such conditions, and can end in serious injury.

Can I make a claim if I am involved in ice or snow-related accidents?

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident on an icy or snowy, slippery ungritted road or pavement, you may be entitled to make a compensation claim. 

As discussed, authorities do have a responsibility to grit and clear certain roads and pavements, and failure to do so could lead to an accident which they may be liable for. 

Additionally, anyone who has moved snow or ice onto a road or pavement, causing you to have an accident - beit an RTA or a slip, trip or fall - may be liable for your injuries, and you might have a case for compensation. If you're involved in such an accident, our experts at National Accident Helpline are ready to listen to your story, investigate your accident and help you get the compensation you could be entitled to.

How can making an accident claim help my recovery?

If you've been injured in an accident on an ungritted, unsafe road or pavement, due to the negligence of someone else, it's likely that you'll endure physical and mental suffering as a result. 

By making a successful accident claim, the compensation you receive can help you get your life back by covering any financial losses you've had, or help to pay any additional costs you've had to pay because of your accident and/or injury. 

In addition to any money, your compensation claim may also lead to you receiving an apology from the other side. This may help set your mind at ease regarding your accident, confirming that it indeed wasn't your fault and helping you to move on from what's happened.

How do you make no win no fee accident claim?

When you're ready to tell us your story, we're here to listen. Not only that, we're here to investigate your accident and get you the compensation you deserve to help get life back on track. 

So, to start your no win no fee claim, all you have to do is simply get in touch. Give us a call on or request a callback and you'll soon be speaking with one of our friendly experts. Alternatively, use our compensation calculator to find out what compensation you could receive, or start your claim online now.