Commuters in Tayside and Fife are being warned they could face hazardous journeys this week.
The Met Office put central Scotland, Tayside and Fife on amber alert, warning motorists to ”be prepared” for wintry weather.
After chairing the Multi Agency Response Team which involves police, rail and road firms and the Met Office on Sunday morning, Scottish transport minister Keith Brown said that with snow and ice forecast for many parts of the country, there could be ”a potentially testing return to work for parts of Scotland.”
Parts of the country have already seen their first covering of snow or heavy frost and ice. So far, it has mainly affected parts of the west, Central Belt, Dumfries and Galloway and Western Highlands.
Mr Brown said: ”We’ve already seen some wintry weather across much of Scotland and, while it is not as severe as this time last year, we cannot afford to be complacent.”
He added: “While we are all working hard to keep Scotland moving, it’s important the public play their part too. With the amber alert being given to travel with caution, we aim to keep road users informed with realtime information through the Traffic Scotland website (link) and radio.
”Anyone planning to travel over the next few days should check weather forecasts, allow extra time for journeys and plan ahead by checking websites and local radio for realtime travel information.”