The Metropolitan Police was called out to assist ICE-SAR which manned road closures on the Ring Road leading out of Reykjavík. Numerous drivers refused to respect the closures and instructions by ICE-SAR, driving on to roads which had been closed to all traffic. Police urges drivers to respect road closures: Cars which get stuck on roads which have been closed only slowed down snowplows and caused the roads to remain closed longer than necessary.
Read more: Parts of Ring Road, road to Þingvellir National Park to remain closed until noon at least
The Ring Road over Hellisheiði heath, which separates Reykjavík and South Iceland, was closed yesterday evening due to the violent storm. Snow and slush on the road made for extremely difficult conditions on the heath. But despite the IRCA having closed the road and ICE-SAR members manning the road closings numerous drivers refused to heed their instructions driving onto the heath.
These drivers then got stuck on the heath, forcing ICE-SAR to rescue them and tow the cars down from the heath to clear the way for snowplows. More than a hundred drivers had to be assisted down from Hellisheiði heath yesterday evening and last night.
Read more: Windspeeds reached hurricane force, 64 m/s (143 mph) in West Iceland
When the morning traffic began this problem resurfaced. To help keep drivers off the closed road ICE-SAR and the Road and Coastal Authority requested Police assistance. It boggles the mind that people refuse to listen to ICE-SAR and drive onto roads which have been closed to all traffic due to the weather, a spokesman for IRCA told the National Broadcasting Service.
He pointed out that the heath is still completely impassable and will remain closed until the storm has calmed down and IRCA snowplows have managed to clear the road.
The Metropolitan Police was called out to assist ICE-SAR which manned road closures on the Ring Road leading out of Reykjavík. Numerous drivers refused to respect the closures and instructions by ICE-SAR, driving on to roads which had been closed to all traffic. Police urges drivers to respect road closures: Cars which get stuck on roads which have been closed only slowed down snowplows and caused the roads to remain closed longer than necessary.
Read more: Parts of Ring Road, road to Þingvellir National Park to remain closed until noon at least
The Ring Road over Hellisheiði heath, which separates Reykjavík and South Iceland, was closed yesterday evening due to the violent storm. Snow and slush on the road made for extremely difficult conditions on the heath. But despite the IRCA having closed the road and ICE-SAR members manning the road closings numerous drivers refused to heed their instructions driving onto the heath.
These drivers then got stuck on the heath, forcing ICE-SAR to rescue them and tow the cars down from the heath to clear the way for snowplows. More than a hundred drivers had to be assisted down from Hellisheiði heath yesterday evening and last night.
Read more: Windspeeds reached hurricane force, 64 m/s (143 mph) in West Iceland
When the morning traffic began this problem resurfaced. To help keep drivers off the closed road ICE-SAR and the Road and Coastal Authority requested Police assistance. It boggles the mind that people refuse to listen to ICE-SAR and drive onto roads which have been closed to all traffic due to the weather, a spokesman for IRCA told the National Broadcasting Service.
He pointed out that the heath is still completely impassable and will remain closed until the storm has calmed down and IRCA snowplows have managed to clear the road.
