ROAD traffic officers have warned drivers after ice caused a number of vehicles to slide into ditches yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The first incident happened at 6am when police were called to Ramsey Road in Kings Ripton after a van full of coffee and ch

ROAD traffic officers have warned drivers after ice caused a number of vehicles to slide into ditches yesterday (Tuesday) morning.

The first incident happened at 6am when police were called to Ramsey Road in Kings Ripton after a van full of coffee and chocolate left the road.

A fire crew from Huntingdon freed the trapped driver from a Transit and he was uninjured.

At 7.25am, a lorry and a car collided on the westbound carriageway of the A14 at the A1198 Godmanchester slip road. No-one was injured but there were tailbacks on the A14 while the lorry was removed.

Less than an hour later, a van skidded into a ditch and a car slid into a telegraph pole on Puddock Road, in Warboys. A woman driver was treated for minor injuries by ambulance crews at the scene.

Just after 8.30am, there was a three-vehicle collision at the junction of Thrapston Road and Church Road, in Brampton. The driver of one of the cars was taken to nearby Hinchingbrooke Hospital with minor injuries.

Cambridgeshire's road policing officers are urging motorists to slow down.

Collision investigator Pc Chris Breeze said: "At this time of year, our tyres have half the grip that they have in the summer.

"In the summer, if you skid at 40mph you will travel 20 metres.

"In the winter, if your car skids you will travel 20 metres at just 24mph - essentially, it is much easier to skid at a slower speed.

"If you have to start the day by scraping your car, then you can guarantee you will need to adapt your driving to fit the colder weather conditions.