Drivers urged to use extra caution as sub-zero temperatures grip Scotland

Published on Monday 28 December 2009 14:24

MOTORISTS faced treacherous driving conditions today after temperatures plunged below zero overnight, causing icy roads around Scotland.

• Innerleithen in the Borders was just one part of Scotland still under a blanket of snow yesterday

Tyndrum in Stirlingshire was the coldest place in Scotland last night, with the mercury dropping to –16C, while at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands it was –14C.

At Glasgow Airport temperatures dropped to –4C.

In Dumfries and Galloway the A75 was closed between Stranraer and Newton Stewart because of "treacherous icy conditions".

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for the whole of Scotland, with widespread icy conditions expected on the roads.

Police advised motorists to drive with caution and pay attention to the weather forecasts.

Forecasters predicted that the cold snap will continue for the next few days.

Steve Ellison, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "There will be another very cold night tonight, and Tuesday will be mostly dry with a few wintry showers in the north east.

"On Wednesday there could be a few more widespread wintry showers and it's going to stay very cold."

As reported in The Scotsman today, one man died and four people, including an 11-year-old boy, were injured after a two-car crash in icy conditions in the Borders.

Elsewhere, roads and rail services were disrupted as up to 18in of snow were reported to have fallen in parts of Perthshire, and other parts of Scotland were hit by icy driving conditions.

The A9 was closed southbound at Blackford just south of Gleneagles after a lorry jacknifed in snowy conditions at around 11.20am.

Tayside Police said that no-one was injured but the lorry was blocking the road.

Diversions were put in place.

ScotRail said that a number of Glasgow Central services were reduced today because of the severe weather conditions.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill praised the efforts of those involved in trying to keep Scotland's transport network as free from disruption as possible in the face of freezing conditions.

He said: "Scotland continues to see some difficult travelling conditions during the current cold snap, with disruption to some rail and air services in particular.

"Temperatures are forecast to plummet again tonight, so we can expect icy roads and pavements and possibly some further snow in the west.

"I'd therefore encourage everyone to be especially careful when out and about either on foot or behind the wheel – to minimise the risk of accidents.

"I'd also like to pay tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in keeping Scotland moving. The current severe weather has lasted, in some parts, for more than a week now and it is thanks to their efforts that Scotland has coped so well."