Police urge drivers to start their commute home early as bad weather set to hit from 3pm onwards

POLICE Scotland have advised the public to make their way home from work early if possible with bad weather returning this afternoon.

The worst of the conditions are likely to impact from around 3pm, with police advising against all non-essential travel within Amber warning areas.

The areas which are likely to be most affected are northern parts of Dumfries and Galloway, much of Strathclyde, fringing into the Borders, West Lothian and Falkirk.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “If you are in amber weather warning area, strong advice from @policescotland is to get home early today if you can. Risk of travel disruption from 3pm is high. @scotgov is alerting business groups to this advice and urging employers to be flexible.”

⚠️ HIGH RISK OF DISRUPTION ⚠️

Please see the @metoffice weather warnings and remember that @policescotland have issued some travel advice for Scotland.

On the move ? and a passenger: visit https://t.co/5H3ZwssUjk

Check here for live incidents: https://t.co/6DAwf7Ozr2 pic.twitter.com/ua05ErQflA

— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) January 19, 2018

Superintendent Louise Blakelock, of Police Scotland’s Road Policing said: “As we progress into this afternoon and evening, I would like to remind the public of the ongoing risk of disruption due to the forecast.

“If you travel on the road network in the warning area, you will be disrupted and you will face significant delays. With that in mind I would urge the public to think and plan ahead for their return journey home this afternoon.

“If you are able to, please make your homeward journey earlier. If you are an employer, please think carefully about allowing your staff to return home early if possible.

“I would like to make it clear that there is a high risk of disruption for road journeys and with that comes a high likelihood of the conditions being very poor, therefore I would ask people whether their journey is really necessary?

“Please ensure you are checking the most up to date information from Traffic Scotland and the Met Office.”