Police chiefs have defended their decision not to punish drivers who ignored roadblocks and chanced their luck on flooded Perthshire roads.
The force in Tayside has been criticised for refusing to charge motorists who tried to negotiate waterlogged routes during recent downpours.
In one case an elderly driver became a viral online hit when he was caught on camera trying to make it through several feet of water on the Blairgowrie to Coupar Angus road.
Police Scotland has admitted drivers will escape prosecution because, in some cases, it would be tricky to prove road closure signs were in place.
Perth and Kinross Council is being urged to consider permanent closure notices, which would be used by police when required.
Chief Inspector Maggie Pettigrew was quizzed at a meeting of the council’s community safety group.
She told councillors: “The circumstances were unprecedented and at one stage there were about 45 roads closed within Perth and Kinross.”
The police chief added that there were so many roads shut at one point that the council ran out of closure signs.
“We took the decision that none of the people involved in these incidents would be charged because this was a significant flooding episode and people were finding it very difficult to get where they wanted to be. Everyone’s circumstances were different,” she said.
“Every incident was looked at on its own merit and we felt that none of them met the threshold that required to have anyone charged. Nobody was put at significant risk because of their actions.
“I stand by the officers’ decision.”
She added: “I don’t want to get into details of specific instances, but these road closure signs can blow down and it’s very difficult to prove they were standing when someone drove past them.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers called for consistency after it emerged drivers in other parts of the country were charged for driving on to closed, flooded roads.
She said: “We need to have a consistent message otherwise people just won’t take it seriously.”
Ms Shiers is now calling for permanent signs to be put in place at some of the area’s worst affected routes, similar to notices installed after flooding at Aberbothrie on the Coupar Angus to Alyth road.
“These signs can be opened and closed by police whenever they are needed,” she said.
“There would then be no doubt as to the status of the road, nor signs blowing over or whatever. I don’t think gates would be a realistic option but proper signs would be a good start.”