Transport Scotland announced its Get Ready for Winter campaign on 6 November 2024, setting out the annual winter service that runs until 15 May1. The announcement was made at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre in South Queensferry by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop1.
The service will involve over 230 gritters carrying out enhanced patrols of the trunk road network, spreading salt and ploughing snow from over 40 depots across Scotland1. Transport Scotland said there is more salt currently in stock than was used for the entirety of last winter, at over 412,000 tonnes1. The season includes dedicated snow plans for the M8, M74, M77, M80 and AWPR, improved mitigation, detection and management of ice on the Queensferry Crossing, and a dedicated Met Office and Police Scotland presence in the control centre1. A new study will explore how forecasting can be improved using mobile sensor data on board spreaders1.
The Queensferry Crossing measures include a full programme of cable cleaning to mitigate ice, an advanced weather forecasting system and new sensors to provide early warning of risk levels, according to Martin Thomson, National Operations Manager for Resilience at Transport Scotland1. He said new automatic barriers would be tested again over the weekend by operating company BEAR Scotland, meaning the diversion to the Forth Road Bridge could be up and running in as little as 20 minutes if required1.
Transport Scotland reported that the 2023/24 season saw 12 named storms and many severe weather warnings, mostly focused on flooding, the highest since the first season in 20151. In a typical autumn/winter there would be six or seven named storms, reaching the letters F or G, it said, adding that Storm Ashley was the first named storm of the current season1.
"The public are being reminded not to be complacent this winter after a record number of named storms last year."
The campaign also covers communications. Transport Scotland said Traffic Scotland now attracts almost 400,000 followers on X and is the second most popular source of information for people seeking travel advice and the condition of trunk roads affected by severe weather1. The gritter tracker, which shows where gritters have carried out treatments, is running again1.
Why it matters for households
The measures apply to Scotland's trunk road network, so households in Scotland who travel on those routes are most directly affected, from 6 November 2024 until 15 May1. The salt stock and gritter fleet determine how the network is treated during snow and ice, and the Queensferry Crossing works are intended to reduce ice-related disruption on a key crossing of the Forth1.
Superintendent Vinnie Fisher, deputy head of Road Policing, said preparing yourself and your vehicle for winter conditions can make a key difference to safety on the roads1. He said that if a weather warning is in place, the advice remains to listen to media broadcasts, follow Traffic Scotland and share travel information with others, and that people can plan ahead by checking their route and windscreen washer levels and being prepared for increased stopping distances and extra time for their journey1.
What happens next
The winter service runs until 15 May1. The new automatic barriers on the Queensferry Crossing were due to be tested again over the weekend of 9 and 10 November by BEAR Scotland, with the diversion to the Forth Road Bridge potentially available in as little as 20 minutes if required1. The study into using mobile sensor data on board spreaders is described as new, with no completion date reported1.
For general preparation during storms and snow, see the guide to storms and snow.
Sources (1)
- Get Ready for Winter | Transport Scotland, transport.gov.scot
