When it snows in the UK. Why does everything come to a halt?

Answer 1

It doesn't snow much in the UK so people are unprepared. In the Scottish Highlands where snow is more common (and there's more of it) people don't have anything like the same problems.

Because it's not a common problem there's not much provision for dealing with it - we rely on a small number of snow ploughs to keep a large number of roads open. In places where snow is common there's snow ploughs and snow blowers everywhere.

Our roads and railways aren't designed for dealing with snow. In some parts of Scotland where they are more likely to be affected there are snow barriers alongside the roads to prevent drifting and even the odd avalanche tunnel.

Individuals themselves aren't used to dealing with snow and it only takes one person who's not familiar with driving in snow to get stuck and effectively close a road down. How many times have you seen someone on even a slight hill with their foot flat on the accelerator, wheels spinning and the vehicle sliding in all directions?

Further, we rely on the Councils to get things moving again and to keep the roads and paths free of snow. In many other countries people get their snow shovel out and do it themselves and actually help other people out.

Answer 2

Because it so rarely happens (in most parts), that we are just awful at coping with it