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Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Motorists warned to take care after a cold and frosty night

A status yellow snow-ice alert remains in place today.

MOTORISTS ARE BEING warned to take care on the roads this morning following a cold and frosty night.

A status yellow snow-ice warning is in place for Ireland until midnight tonight.

Met Éireann is warning that there are frost and icy patches in many areas of the country this morning.

Sunshine and wintry showers are expected throughout the day, with the greatest risk of snow early this morning. Connacht and Ulster are most at risk of snowfall, especially on high ground.

Rain and sleet will fall later today, heaviest in the west and northwest. Some isolated showers are expected in the southeast.

It will be a cold day again, with the temperature dropping as low as 4 degrees, with gusty west to northwest winds.

Frost conditions will persist again tonight with icy patches expected to develop in many areas. Met Éireann has warned that temperatures could be as low at -2 degrees.
https://twitter.com/SusanSmythSL/status/934193498059919360

Be careful

AA Roadwatch is reminding drivers that stopping distances are 10 times longer on snow and ice. It said that gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.

“Use major routes as they are more likely to have been gritted than secondary routes,” it said.
https://twitter.com/SusanSmythSL/status/934343916647800832

Meanwhile, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued the following advice for road users, when driving in icy and snowy conditions:

  • Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.
  • If the road looks polished or glossy it could be black ice – it’s nearly transparent and can occur especially in sheltered areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.
  • Use dipped headlights at all times of poor visibility to ensure you are seen by other motorists.
  • Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.
  • Remove all snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision. It can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver.
  • In snowy and icy conditions slow down, use all controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Avoid over-steering and harsh braking and harsh acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if driving through bends.
  • Do not drive based on the tail-lights of the vehicle in front. This can give a false sense of security and you will be too close to be able to brake safely. In heavy fog, turn off your radio and let down your driver’s window a fraction, so as you can hear other traffic.
  • With sunny spells also forecast for certain parts of the country, drivers are reminded of the danger posed by sun glare. Minimise risk by wearing sunglasses, ensuring your windscreen is clear of grease or grime inside and out and adding windshield washer fluid to the water in the reservoir.
  • The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out and travel only if absolutely necessary. This leaves the emergency services free to deal with real emergencies.

Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists have been advised not to underestimate the danger of ice.

“Many slips and falls happen in places people regard as safe and secure, typically outside their front door, on the doorstep, on the path or while getting out of the car. Take extra care,” the RSA said in a statement.

Read: Woman dies after car ‘struck a barrier’ on motorway in Tipperary

More: A Tánaiste, a pedibus and Mambo No. 5: A day that brought Ireland to the brink of a Christmas election

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:17 AM

    Shall we be receiving these on a daily basis? I think it’s called winter? Someone correct me if I’m wrong though

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:18 AM

    @kevinhunt101: You’re not obliged to read them.

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    Mute Jesus Christ
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:21 AM

    @kevinhunt101: Every time the Jeremy Kyle Show is on my tv, I switch it off, I’ve no interest. Except when there are fights, I watch it then. Essential viewing.

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:33 AM

    @kevinhunt101: You think it’s winter? It is winter how did you only think it was winter wow.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:38 AM

    @Honeybadger197: sorry I’m not from North Korea, I thought there was free speech, sorry I’m confused, your right babes, I won’t negatively comment on anything in life in case I upset one person

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:54 AM

    @kevinhunt101: Fair play Kevin. Don’t know why anyone would be negative for the sake of it anyway.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:04 AM

    @kevinhunt101: lol at you preaching free speech and then giving out because someone else commented! Irony is dead!

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    Mute George Oscar Bluth
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Deborah Behan: He is a snowflake it seems.

    11
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:19 AM

    @George Oscar Bluth: nice deployment of that expression. For once, wittily used. Chuckling.

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    Mute Steve Austin
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    Nov 25th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @Fiona deFreyne: zzzzzzz

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    Mute Steve Austin
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    Nov 25th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Deborah Behan: zzzzzzzz

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    Mute paul kelly
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    Nov 25th 2017, 3:03 PM

    @Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ

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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:33 AM

    I personally love the cold weather, I look forward to seeing the local TDs with their bright shiney faces on the electoral trail over the coming weeks, hopefully they will take the time to reflect on the plight of the homeless in this season of goodwill?

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    Mute Sherman Berstein
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:41 AM

    @Jarlath Murphy: if they go to the polls over this they should be all sacked. If there’s fault then deal with it but don’t put the country back another 6 months to a year by calling a stupid election that nobody wants .

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @Sherman Berstein: Lets hope Frances takes one for her team….

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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:06 AM

    @Sherman Berstein: I think elections are very healthy in a democratic society, it helps potential TDs to engage in a meaningful way with their electorate and allows them to get feedback and encouragement on their policies.

    Why do some people fear and dread an election so much?

    The cost of an election is miniscule to bailing out the Banksters?

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:28 AM

    I am open to correction but my understanding is that very few Irish cars have winter tyres. Winter tyres perform well in very cold and icy conditions.

    Instead we drive on standard tyres which lose much of their road holding, adhesion and controlled flexibility and deformation flexibility at 7C and less.

    As a consequence, when driving in road temperatures conditions of 7C or less, roadholding, safe handling, stopping distances, cornering and surface adhesion are all severely compromised.

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    Mute Tommy Cahill
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:51 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: Winter Tyres should me made compulsory,( and renamed “Cold Weather Tyres”). I put on my Winter Tyres when the Summer Time changes in Oct and change them in March when Winter Time changes. I have done this for years. I normally get a minimum of 3 years out of my Tyres this way – remember 4mm is the legal minimum depth of thread for Winter Tyres. I have never been stuck and am able to go anywhere with this combination. We cannot rely on our governments and local authorities to clear roads etc. Most people forget the importance of Tyres and do not realize that the total (4 Tyres)contact surface for most cars is approximately the same as an A4 sheet of paper! Scary!

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:04 AM

    @Tommy Cahill: you make driving much safer for yourself and for others by doing that.

    Excellent idea about naming “cold weather tyres”.

    What does the RSA say about this subject? Would it recommend such a sensible measure?

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    Mute WynnnerZ
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: depends really, like last winter we had it relatively mild compared to 2010, there’s no point having winter tyres, it’s completely different to living in mainland Europe where your guaranteed snow, and thing is people drive far too fast here without really thinking about the weather, cross weather tyres are fine provided you drive properly.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:12 AM

    @WynnnerZ: the cut off is around 7C and for some tyre compounds, even higher at 9C. Such low temperatures at road level are commonplace especially for early morning and night time driving.

    The only down side to driving a winter tyre in higher temperatures is accelerated wear but what price human safety?

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    Mute Hall Monitor
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:20 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: What price a Tony Daly/Michael OLainn/Fiona de Brayne spam free topic?

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:25 AM

    @Hall Monitor: Please stop sending me personal emails and texts. The relationship is over. Please stop harassing and bullying me.

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    Mute Hall Monitor
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:43 AM

    @Fiona deFreyne: What you and your alter egos do with your own time is nobody’s concern Michael

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    Mute Steve Austin
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    Nov 25th 2017, 1:49 PM

    @Fiona deFreyne: zzzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute Jamie Jj Tobin
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:19 AM

    Newbridge got a heavy blanket of snow last night by the looks of that photo!

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:43 AM

    Jeasus heavy snow in Naas by the looks of it. (Ye don’t want to stick “File Photo” under it by any chance?)

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    Mute winston smith
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:18 AM

    Yes Mammy.

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    Mute winston smith
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:37 AM

    Or should that be Nanny.

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    Mute Robin Basstard
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    Nov 25th 2017, 9:47 AM

    My advice is…stay indoors…grab a mug of tea…coffee…or something stronger…sit if your comfy chair…and watch as many Black Friday fight videos as you can handle…

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 25th 2017, 10:06 AM

    @Robin Basstard: great advice! Will do!

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    Mute Abe Brennan
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:17 AM

    I also love the cold weather, i love to see the politicians with their hands in their own pockets.

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