A special view of the N33 near Assen today, because with temperatures above thirty degrees a gritter is driving. Not to sprinkle salt, but as a test drive. It is time for Rijkswaterstaat’s annual check-up of their equipment.
During this so-called fleet review, it is checked whether everything is ready for next winter.
All cars are taken to the Rijkswaterschap support center for this, says Jan Rients Slippens. “This is where the spreaders and sliders are assembled, the plows are attached to the wagons and everything is tested to see if everything works. Small defects, such as defective lights, are repaired. Then part or the entire spreading route is driven.”
In this way, the cars can be prepared in peace when the cold season starts again. Because in the winter, the contractor must have the last grain of salt on the road within two hours of the report from Rijkswaterstaat. Then there is no time for defects in the cars. “That’s why we want to be well prepared for the winter, but the sun can stay for a while,” Slippens laughs.
Benny de Jonge is one of the drivers of the cars. He is testing his car today. “I check whether the spreader is doing its job properly, see that everything works and drive the route. When the first call is made in November, we can get started right away. We don’t spread salt now, it’s just turned off.”
De Jonge does have a comment about his fellow road users. “Sometimes I think that motorists should appreciate our work more. Most of them do, but not all. While we are working on their safety on the road, some do not understand that you are not driving so fast and want to pass you then. But that is not possible and also not allowed.”
Last week there was already testing in the Hoogeveen region, today it was Assen’s turn and Erm will follow next week.