Should we be gritting pavements to prevent pedestrian injuries?

The severe cold spells in the UK in the winters of 2009–10 and 2010–11 focused attention on the subject of gritting roads in order to reduce road traffic collisions, and led to an independent review of England’s transport systems in winter conditions.1 However, less attention seems to have been paid to the issue of gritting pavements in order to prevent unintentional injuries to pedestrians. Currently, some individuals and businesses in the UK choose to de-ice pavements outside their properties. Furthermore, certain councils in the UK grit pavements, whereas others do not; provision is patchy across the country.