Weather conditions such as temperature, snow, wind, frost, ice and rainfall inevitably affect Scotland's trunk road network, so it's important that we prepare for any climate changes that may alter our weather.  Following a number of landslides in summer 2004, two studies were commissioned to assess how climate change will impact on Scotland's roads.

The research was undertaken in two phases and considered two issues:

• how to identify areas most at risk of landslides and how to manage that risk, and
• analysing the potential future trends in climate change in Scotland and the implications for the operation and management of the road networks

The general conclusion was that the climatic changes expected in Scotland by the 2020's are relatively small but that even these small changes may be sufficiently significant to impact on how we design and manage our trunk roads network.

A strategy is being developed to manage the risk of landslides as far as possible and to minimise the danger to trunk road users.

Climate Change Links:

Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study Summary Report
Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study
Scottish Road Network Landslides Study Summary Report
Scottish Road Network Landslides Study

The Scottish Government has produced two campaigns to highlight the issue of climate change-

Choose Another Way
This site looks at alternative ways to travel besides taking the car

Do a Little, Change a Lot
An environmental awareness campaign that provides tips on how we can all make small changes to our daily routines, including the way we travel