|
Police continue to urge motorists to take extra care when returning to collect abandoned vehicles, especially with temperatures set to plummet overnight.
Members of the public needing to collect their vehicle from the A3 have been today ringing Hampshire police on 101, where a response has been co-ordinated to assist motorists in returning to collect their vehicles safely.
The abandoned vehicle assistance provided by the 101 service will finish at 20:00 today [Wednesday, 6 January] however the police will continue regular patrols of the affected area on the A3 between Longmoor and Hindhead.
Some callers to the police were advised that their vehicles would be recovered in accordance with the plans created to deal with the problem. However, having reviewed the situation and the fact that there were more vehicles abandoned on the road than first thought (200+), it has not proved practical to recover them to garages.
Superintendent Barry Talbot, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: 'Many drivers were forced to abandon their cars overnight. Those who have been offered recovery assistance through the 101 service should stay at home and not attempt to recover their vehicles in the prevailing icy conditions. Motorists are advised to ring 101 after 10am tomorrow morning, when they will be issued with further advice. Wherever possible, we would like to unite drivers with their abandoned vehicles on the A3 in a safe and protected manner.'
The multi-agency Adverse Weather Office, situated in Netley, will re-open at 06:00 tomorrow [Thursday, 7 January] when the road conditions and the situation with the abandoned vehicles will be reviewed accordingly.
|
