I was invited to ride on one of the Isle of Wight's new gritters and find out more about how the whole operation works.

It's winter, and Island Roads' gritting operation is necessary to keep our roads safe.

Island Roads grits around 350 kilometres of road on its main routes, which is around 43 per cent of the Island's roads, which is above the national average.

The gritters follow six main routes but also are used reactively in extreme weather.

(Image: IWCP)

Island Roads has 1,600 tonnes of rock salt in stock from Winsford in Cheshire, which 21 trained drivers use to grit Isle of Wight roads.

(Image: IWCP)

The operation is fine-tuned, but it comes back to the single principle - if in doubt, you go and grit.

(Image: IWCP)

Jez Mew, a supervisor at Island Roads, took me along when he completed a part of the Cowes gritting route.

Jez explained to me the job, and the tough call of whether you go out and grit when surface temperatures are marginal. Short answer is, you do.

(Image: IWCP)

The optimum surface temperature for grit is between two degrees and zero degrees. It's rarely consistent across the Island, and each area poses its own challenges.

Each new gritter comes fitted with an AI camera to ensure safety, and a DAB radio. We headed up Stag Lane listening to Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan!

(Image: IWCP)

Island Roads allow up to four hours for a route, but they typically take between two and two and half hours.

The team, headed up by operations manager Dave Wallis, has a forecast that updates three times a day and is consistently monitored.

A mixture of salt and brine is used for surface ice, ensuring that the gritters are effective.

(Image: IWCP)

However, during heavy snow, just salt is used, and snowploughs are attached to the front.

I've always taken safe roads in winter for granted - now I know how much planning, care and, if you'll excuse the pun, grit goes into the operation. 

Next time you see a gritter out, give them a wave!