Disruption due to severe weather

Experience of severe weather disruption

Four in five respondents (79%) said that at least one of their journeys had been disrupted by severe weather in the past 12 months. Heavy rain or hail was the most frequently encountered disruption (57% experienced at least once), with landslides the least (16%) (Figure 7.1).

In comparison with 2023, respondents were less likely to say they had experienced snow or ice (55% in 2024, compared to 66% in 2023) and more likely to say they had experienced high winds (49%, compared to 43%).

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

Respondents in the North West and North East were more likely than average to have experienced disruption from snow and ice (65% and 64%, compared to 55%), and respondents in the North West were more likely to experience landslides (37%, compared to 16% overall).

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

Respondents who had experienced disruption due to floods were asked which specific roads were affected. The A90, M8 and A9 were the most common occurrences (15%, 12% and 11% respectively).

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

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

The most common sources of information on the condition of trunk roads affected by severe weather were local radio (35%), the Traffic Scotland website (32%), television (30%) and word of mouth (26%). When asked which one source they used for the majority of information, 20% selected local radio and 18% selected the Traffic Scotland website.

The use of television for information about the condition of trunk roads had increased since 2023 (30% in 2024, compared to 24% in 2023).

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

Respondents aged 35 and older were more likely than those aged 18-34 to use the Traffic Scotland website (37%, compared to 19%) and the radio (39%, compared to 23%) as a source of information about severe weather.

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

Respondents were more likely to be satisfied than dissatisfied with the quality of information about severe weather affecting trunk roads (Figure 7.5).

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

Respondents in the North were more likely than those in the South to be dissatisfied with the accuracy of information on the condition of trunk roads before severe weather (17%, compared to 10%) (Figure 7.6).

Dissatisfaction with the availability of information was lower than average among those in the South East, both during severe weather (11%, compared to 18% overall) and after severe weather (11%, compared to 19%).

Figure 7.6: Dissatisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather, by region, as described in the text above
Figure 7.6: Dissatisfaction with information before, during and after severe weather, by region

Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption

Around a third of respondents (37%) were satisfied with the measures taken to deal with disruptions after severe weather, while 16% were dissatisfied. Satisfaction with the availability of alternative routes and diversions was more varied, with 27% saying they were satisfied with this measure and 25% saying they were dissatisfied (Figure 7.7). Satisfaction with the measures to deal with disruptions had increased since 2023 (37%, compared to 32%).

Figure 7.7: Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption, as described in the text above
Figure 7.7: Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption

Those in the North West were more likely than average to be dissatisfied with the availability of alternative routes and diversions (34%, compared to 25% overall) (Figure 7.8).

Figure 7.8: Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption, by region, as described in the text above
Figure 7.8: Satisfaction with measures to deal with severe weather disruption, by region

Weather-related travel advice warnings

The majority of respondents (85%) said that they understood how the current warning system works, with a similar proportion (87%) saying they always follow the advice of the travel warnings (Figure 7.9). Three-quarters (77%) agreed that recent weather warnings had been accurate. These findings were broadly in line with the 2023 data, although there was a slight increase in those who said they follow the advice of travel warnings (87%, compared to 83% in 2023).

Figure 7.9: Views on weather-related travel advice warnings, as described in text above
Figure 7.9: Views on weather-related travel advice warnings

Women were more likely than men to say that they always follow the advice of travel warnings (91%, compared to 84%), and those aged 65 and older were more likely than average to say this (93%, compared to 87% overall).