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Likely never to to keep everyone happy unless we get a 24/7 gritting service to every house in Shetland. Think Shetland has a lot better standard of service though than most parts of Scottish mainland. Gritting is just a tool to fight against poor road conditions and cannot mitigate lack of experience, inability to fit appropriate winter tyres and simply going too fast on slippery roads.

The gritters start at 5.30 and 6.00 am, the grit only really starts to work when the traffic gets among it. And hour earlier wouldn't make a difference. I drive to town many times in the middle of the night with bad roads but if you have the proper tyres and take your time you never have a problem. Unless there is a lot of snow and drifting then you should stay at home.

Can you vote for Juncker? Can you vote for Tusk? Can you vote for Shultz? The only questions that matter, as so eloquently put by Tony Benn: 1. What power have you got? 2. Where did you get it from? 3. In whose interests do you exercise it? 4. To whom are you accountable? 5. How can we get rid of you? The last is of paramount importance, and particularly when the EU fails to address this last point so badly - the European Commission, take note.

Well how did we manage many years ago when we did get snow and ice ! Simple there was studded tyres and chains,but of couse we do not get enough "winter conditions" nowadays to make it economical to fit studs(if they are legal?) and as for chains,there would not be enough room in the wheel arch to allow them to be fitted on many cars. Also life was far more interesting way back then as we did not have so many safety barriers.Going down Wormadale and many more places demanded a lot more skill and nerve. The problem is everyone has to drive like maniacs,if we all slow down and leave plenty of distance between us and give ourselves plenty of time it is amazing what can be done safely. It must make more sense to plan ones journey to allow plenty of time to get safely to ones destination,than to drive fast get involved in an accident end up in hospital ,probably unable to work for weeks and have to fill up all sorts of insurance claim forms,with possible police charges as well. The financial costs also have to be though of. If the council were to put down more grit this would only encourage use all to drive faster

Yep, two sides to this coin. It certainly doesn't help when employers throw their toys out the pram and pressure employees to make dangerous journeys. My work are more than accommodating I may add... but others certainly aren't. Lady Roachmill was told to walk over a mile to "get the bus" after several attempts to get her car up an untreated icy hill at the crack of dawn. All this in 0 degree head-on snow.

I think it's definitely worth reviewing. Gritting is about safety but also keeping the private sector going, and so it may need to adapt to fit changing trends. I sometimes think the public sector forgets they wouldn't exist without the private.