Kent Winter Roads: Gritting Routes and Getting Your Car Ready

Written by Petro Olekhnovych, mobile mechanic in Aylesham, Kent

Kent winter driving is safest when you know which roads are likely to be gritted and which are not. Kent County Council (KCC) treats a network of primary routes, including all A and B roads, when the road surface is expected to freeze. Smaller village lanes and estate roads are usually not gritted, so plan your route and get your car ready before the cold arrives.

Which roads KCC grits

KCC’s Winter Service Plan for 2025/26 says its routine salting covers pre-set primary routes. These include all Class A and B roads, plus other roads chosen because they are hazardous. The plan says these routes make up about a third of the road length in Kent.

Salting starts when road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing, or when snow is forecast. KCC says it has 60 salting vehicles, and that the winter service runs from October to April.

Motorways and trunk roads are not KCC’s job. The plan says these are the responsibility of National Highways.

KCC posts winter updates on its Gritting Kent pages on Facebook and X (@GrittingKent).

Which roads are not gritted

This is the part that catches drivers out. According to KCC’s plan:

• Pavements, pedestrian areas and cycle ways are not salted in advance.
• In prolonged snow or a salt shortage, salting can be cut back to the main strategic network only. Local and estate roads are left out.
• Some minor roads and cul-de-sacs may be left to thaw naturally after snow.
• Ice on minor roads is only treated once primary routes are clear.

For many villages in east Kent, that means the lane from your house to the main road may not be treated. The first and last mile of a journey can be the most slippery.

KCC has over 3,000 salt bins for people to treat small icy areas on roads off the primary routes. The plan says they are filled once per winter, with refills in severe weather when resources allow.

Gritted does not mean ice-free

KCC warns that salt becomes less effective below about minus 6°C, so treated roads can still become icy. The Highway Code also says to drive carefully even on treated roads.

What the Highway Code says about ice and snow

The Highway Code has clear advice for winter (rules 228 to 231):

• Check the forecast. Only drive in icy or snowy weather if your journey is essential, and allow extra time.
• Carry winter kit. It suggests de-icer, a scraper, a torch, warm clothes, a first aid kit, jump leads, a shovel, and a warm drink and food.
• Clear all windows. You must be able to see, so all snow and ice must be cleared from every window. Lights must be clean and number plates readable.
• Leave a big gap. Stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads.
• Be gentle. On ice, use a low speed in the highest gear you can. Accelerate and brake gently, and slow down well before bends.
• Take care around gritters, and do not overtake snowploughs unless the lane ahead has been cleared.

The Highway Code also notes that steering that feels unresponsive can mean ice, and that tyres make almost no noise on ice.

Getting your car ready

A car that struggles in mild weather often fails in the cold. Our winter car checklist covers what to check, step by step. The essentials are tyres, lights, wipers, washers, coolant and brakes.

On tyres, the Highway Code says cars must have at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the whole tyre. That is the legal minimum, not a target.

If a warning light comes on in cold weather, do not ignore it. A red brake, oil pressure or temperature light, or a flashing engine light, means stop when it is safe and get the car checked. Our guide to dashboard warning lights explains what each one means.

Cold snaps also bring potholes. If you hit one hard, our post on pothole damage in Kent explains what to check and how to report it. If you break down on a main road, read what to do on the A2, M2 or M20.

Classic owners who would rather keep their cars off salted roads can lay them up instead. See our guide to laying up a classic car for winter.

How we can help

We are a mobile mechanic based in Aylesham. We come to your home or workplace across Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich, Folkestone and the villages in between. See the full list of places our mobile mechanic service covers across Kent.

Before winter, we can carry out a service, pre-MOT check, brake pads and discs, and a coolant and filter check. If something is not right, such as a car that is slow to start, we can come out and diagnose the cause, then tell you what it needs.

Labour is £30-£50 per hour depending on the job and its difficulty. Parts are extra, and we agree the price on WhatsApp before any work starts.

Frequently asked questions

Does KCC grit my road?
KCC grits primary routes, including all A and B roads. Most estate roads and minor lanes are not treated in advance. Motorways and trunk roads are handled by National Highways.

When do the gritters go out?
When road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing, or when snow is forecast.

Is a gritted road safe?
Not always. KCC says salt works less well below about minus 6°C, and the Highway Code says to drive carefully even on treated roads.

What should I keep in the car?
The Highway Code suggests de-icer, a scraper, a torch, warm clothing, a first aid kit, jump leads, a shovel, and a warm drink and food.

Need help? Send a WhatsApp to 07563 350335 with your car’s make and model and we’ll come to you.

Sources

• Kent Winter Service Plan (Kent County Council)
• It’s snow joke: Kent County Council is winter ready (Kent County Council)
• The Highway Code: driving in adverse weather conditions, rules 226 to 237 (GOV.UK)
• The Highway Code: Annex 6, vehicle maintenance, safety and security (GOV.UK)