Fresh tarmac. The road has been resurfaced between Trowbridge and B-o-A. I was told by a tarmacer that so the tarmac doesn't stick to the drain covers, they paint the covers with diesel! I've also found that it takes a few months before a new road surface offers a decent level of grip. There's a lot of oil substances involved in laying a new road. Unlike Pammy's T-shirt, it's worse when it's wet... :-?