A fleet of new ice patrol vehicles are set to improve Scotland’s resilience said Transport Minister Keith Brown today.

The Minister was speaking as he launched a pilot of fifteen vehicles equipped with mobile ice sensors. This pilot fleet has already taken to the road and, if successful, the equipment will be rolled out across Transport Scotland’s operating companies winter fleet.

The pilot is just one of the measures being introduced immediately following the implementation of the six point plan earlier this winter. Other measures include a new target response time of 30 minutes for priority routes which will now be monitored by patrols, including eight additional vehicles.

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Mr Brown said: "This work is clear evidence of our efforts to proactively improve Scotland’s winter service.

“The new kits will provide additional real time information about temperatures on the network, allowing for targeted response – which will now be made within 30 minutes for priority routes with high traffic volumes.

“These new measures will provide Transport Scotland and road operating companies with more tools to help tackle the effects of severe weather, keeping our road network moving and Scotland open for business.”

The sensors will present a more comprehensive picture of temperatures across the network, and supplement the data collected by fixed sensors. They will provide gritter drivers with real time road surface and air temperatures allowing them to identify and instantly treat localised cold spots.

This announcement comes at the same time as the publication of the Performance Audit Group reports on the closure of the M8 in December 2010 and January 2011. It is anticipated that these sensors and other measures, in conjunction with the six point plan and experience gained from this winter’s severe weather, will enhance winter resilience in the future.

(GK)