Photo shows horse-drawn gritting vehicle

It's getting a bit nippy isn't it? With the cold weather setting in, doubtless many individuals are thinking twice before stepping outside. Although December has only just started, snow has already fallen over parts of Scotland and northern England.

As a result, councils may have deployed gritting vehicles in order to deal with the icy conditions.
Many of these trucks are equipped with GPS devices and are able to quickly remove the dangers associated with winter elements, but it wasn't always this simple.

An interesting article on the BBC website features a picture from the Westminster City Council archives. This image dates back to 1903 and shows how authorities would have handled the frozen conditions.

Back then, the Council had gritting vehicles – but these were horse-drawn carts.

The photo – which shows a horse and cart being driven by someone who appears to be wearing some sort of riding hat – was found in an old folder by council employees. According to the article, it would have taken a minimum of 12 days for these carts to grit the area around Westminster.

Fortunately, technology has made it easier for councils to control the dangers associated with ice and snow. Although the process can sometimes take a while, motorists shouldn't have to wait two weeks before safely completing their morning commute.

Photo via the BBC website