Disruption due to severe weather

Experience of severe weather disruption

The majority of trunk roads users (83%) said that at least one of their journeys had been disrupted by severe weather in the past 12 months. Two-thirds (66%) had experienced disruptions due to high winds at least once, followed by snow or ice (62%), heavy rain or hail (59%), floods (48%), and landslides (17%) (Figure 7.1).

In comparison to 2024, respondents were more likely to have experienced disruptions due to high winds (66%, compared to 49% in 2024) and snow or ice (62%, compared to 55% in 2024).

Figure 7.1: Experience of severe weather disruption, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.1: Experience of severe weather disruption

Respondents in the North West and North East were more likely than those in the South East to report disruption due to snow and ice (71% and 66% respectively, compared to 53%) and due to floods (57% and 55% respectively, compared to 38%). Respondents in the North West were also more likely than average to experience landslides (32%, compared to 17% overall) (Figure 7.2).

Figure 7.2: Experience of severe weather disruption, by region, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.2: Experience of severe weather disruption, by region

Those who said they had experienced disruption due to floods were asked which roads were affected. The most commonly selected roads were the A90 (15%), M8 (13%) and A9 (9%).

Of those whose travel was disrupted by severe weather, 27% had to cancel a journey. This was higher than in 2024, where 17% of respondents said they had to cancel their journey due to severe weather (Figure 7.3).

Figure 7.3: Impact of severe weather disruption on journeys, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.3: Impact of severe weather disruption on journeys

Respondents South East were less likely than average to say they had to cancel a journey due to severe weather (20%, compared to 27% overall).

Sources of information about road conditions before, during and after severe weather

Respondents were asked to select all the sources they used over the last 12 months to get information about the condition of trunk roads affected by severe weather. The most common sources were local radio (37%) and the Traffic Scotland website (34%), followed by word of mouth (27%) and television (27%). When asked which single source they used for most of their information, respondents most commonly said they used local radio (20%) and the Traffic Scotland website (19%) (Figure 7.4).

Figure 7.4: Sources of information on the status and condition of trunk roads during severe weather, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.4: Sources of information on the status and condition of trunk roads during severe weather

Older respondents (aged 65 and above) were more likely than average to get information about severe weather from television (48%, compared 27% overall). Respondents aged 35-64 were more likely than average to use the Traffic Scotland website (39%, compared to 34%), while those aged 25-34 were more likely than average to use X, formerly known as Twitter (18%, compared to 10% overall).

Satisfaction with information about road conditions before, during and after severe weather

Overall, respondents were more likely to be satisfied with information about trunk roads affected by severe weather than dissatisfied (Figure 7.5). Half (50%) of respondents were satisfied with information provided about road conditions before severe weather. Slightly less than half (46%) were satisfied with information provided during severe weather and 39% were satisfied with information after severe weather events.

Figure 7.5: Satisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.5: Satisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather

Those in the South East were more likely than average to be satisfied with information on the condition of trunk roads after severe weather (46%, compared to 39% overall) (Figure 7.6).

Figure 7.6: Satisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather, by region, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.6: Satisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather, by region

Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption

More than a third (36%) of respondents were satisfied with measures taken to deal with disruptions on trunk roads after severe weather, with 17% being dissatisfied. Respondents were slightly less likely (30%) to say they were satisfied with the availability of alternative routes and diversions after severe weather disruptions, with 22% being dissatisfied (Figure 7.7). These findings were in line with those from 2024.

Respondents living in the South East were less likely than average to be dissatisfied with the availability of alternative routes and diversions (15%, compared to 22% overall) (Figure 7.8).

Figure 7.8: Dissatisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption, by region, as described in the preceding text — Figure 7.8: Dissatisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption, by region

Weather-related travel advice warnings

Most respondents agreed they understand how the current warning system works (87%) and that they always follow the advice of travel warnings (87%). More than three-quarters (78%) agreed that recent weather-related travel advice warnings have been accurate (Figure 7.9).

Older respondents (aged 65 and above) were more likely than those under 65 to agree they always follow the advice of travel warnings (93%, compared to 85%). Older respondents were also more likely to agree that recent travel warnings have been accurate (81%, compared 77%).

Respondents in the North East were more likely than average to disagree that travel warning have been accurate (25%, compared to 19% overall).

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