Councils in the UK are sending out gritters to help ensure the roads remain safe for driving as the country experiences record-breaking temperatures.
Seeing a gritter fling out salt as it makes its way down the road isn't a particularly unusual sight in winter, as the salt can be used to melt ice or prevent it from forming on the roads when temperatures drop and snow begins to fall.
However, with temperatures currently exceeding 35°C in Britain, I think it's safe to say the only ice we should expect to see is the cubes floating around in our drinks as we desperately try to cool off.
With that in mind you might be wondering why on earth councils are turning to gritters this week, but it turns out the vehicles can also come in handy when the weather is hot.
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As the sun beats down roads can quite literally be in danger of melting, so to keep them in good condition gritters can be used to spread a dusting of crushed stone, instead of the salt they're usually seen spreading. The stone helps to soak up excess tar on the roads and reduces the likelihood of road surfaces melting.
This practice was put to use by Central Bedfordshire Council today (18 July), when a spokesperson for the council explained: "Usually, Central Bedfordshire Council’s fleet of gritters can be seen keeping the roads safe from snow and ice in the colder months, but this week it’s the extreme heatwave that has seen their drivers pick up the keys to the gritters again."
The council went on to say that temperatures in the area are predicted to reach a high of a staggering 40°C , which 'could affect the condition of the road surface'.
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"When road temperatures become too hot with the surface exceeding 50°C they can begin to melt and cause damage," the council explained. "By spreading a light dusting of crushed stone, instead of salt, it helps soak up excess tar and reduces the likelihood of road surfaces melting."
Central Bedfordshire is not the only place where gritters are out in force, as social media posts from Durham County Council and Lincolnshire County Council revealed they too are relying on gritters to keep their roads safe.
Durham County Council posted: "If you see one of these in the next few days, your eyes are not deceiving you – it is a gritter out on one of the hottest days of the year. Instead of spreading salt, our staff are on standby to sand the roads to help prevent the tar from melting in these high temperatures."
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The record-breaking temperatures prompted the Met Office to put a red weather warning in place, meaning there could be 'widespread impacts on people and infrastructure'.
Featured Image Credit: @HampshireHighways/@KingstonCouncil/Twitter
