"500 plows in the whole of the UK"

[randomness]

So, I just heard on PRI's "The World" radio news show that the United Kingdom has 500 snowplows for the entire country.

They gave no context for this number. The story certainly gives the impression that this is very few, but how many is a reasonable number? I don't know how many snowplows Massachusetts has, for example.

Leaving aside whether this is true, whether this number only counts plows under the control of the Ministry of Transport, or what... I still don't know how that number compares with places which get more snow.

I'm not blaming the show, as this was more or less an atmosphere piece about how England has come to a sliding, slippery halt because of the weather; but I am really wondering what a baseline number of plows is for a place that gets snow regularly.

Comments

[ravenzanne.livejournal.com]

Per the Seattle Times, from last year's storm - the City of Seattle had 27 "trucks" for plowing/sanding. It sure didn't seem like it. But like others have commented, we don't have the independent contractors to rely on. (Heck I don't even own a shovel) Thankfully no snow here this year.

[chotii.livejournal.com]

You know what amused me? I mean besides having to CHAIN UP to get OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY last year?

They didn't want to use salt on the roads, because "it might go into Puget Sound." Finally, somebody pointed out that Puget Sound is SALTWATER.

This year they were prepared, with salt/brine/etc. Of course, we haven't had any snow (yet).