Sturgeon’s fury at jackknifed HGVs

NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday condemned companies that sent heavy goods vehicles out on to the roads while there was a red weather warning in place.

Several HGVs jackknifed on Wednesday, including on the heavily blocked M80.

At First Minister’s Questions, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We have to be very clear in the message we are sending to companies who deliver goods in HGVS – and this is not a criticism of drivers because driver safety is one of the important issues here – during a red weather warning a HGV should not be on one of our trunks roads unless absolutely unavoidable.’

She added: ‘I saw some branded HGVs in pictures yesterday and given the branding on them I would struggle to say their transport was unavoidable.’

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf told the BBC: ‘I have seen HGVs that are carrying home furniture, stationery and piping. I am not convinced that is necessary and a lot of the incidents we have seen have been caused by a loss of traction by HGVs, so not everybody has been listening or heeding that advice.’

But haulier ARR Craib said: ‘Of our 300 trucks, only 15 became stuck and that was because the road was blocked, not because they lost traction. Most hauliers are sensible and won’t travel unless it is essential. The bigger issue is, why was the M80 so badly affected?’

Brian Kenny, operations manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland at the Road Haulage Association, said: ‘Some of those vehicles will be carrying essential supplies – and some of them dispatched days earlier.’

Miss Sturgeon also urged employers yesterday to ‘be flexible’ with workers. But Scottish Labour MSP Jenny Mara yesterday claimed parliament staff had been told to get in.

She appealed on Twitter for a lift to Dundee to get home to her baby, adding: ‘We were TOLD to get to the Scottish parliament yesterday and to stay with no consideration for caring responsibilities.’