New roads ice-eliminator trialled in Scotland

Liquid solution will provide a new way of clearing roads at temperatures at up to minus 20 degrees

A trial of a new roads ice-eliminator has proved successful on Scotland's roads.

A liquid solution was recently successfully tested on hard-packed snow and ice on a road in Aberdeenshire. It will provide a new way of clearing roads at temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees and strategic stocks will be placed around the country for targeted use during lower temperatures, when normal salt is not as effective.

A six point plan to improve communication with road users and improve the transport response to severe weather has also recently been announced. A multi agency transport response team was also set up including representatives of Scotland's police forces, the trunk road operating companies, Transport Scotland and ScotRail.

Other new measures being developed include a range of improved communications to inform the road user such as additional CCTV cameras, more mobile sensors to detect on the ground road conditions and publishing information on forecasts and treatment programmes.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "This is one of the first times this treatment has been used on the Scottish road network and it is encouraging to see this initial trial deliver positive early results."

"Last December we faced an unprecedented situation with the coldest weather for 100 years and it's right we continue to explore ways of continually improving our capacity to respond to severe weather."

Further information:
Scottish Government