Two lorry drivers could face prosecution after their trucks overturn during high winds on A1

The police had closed the roads to high sided vehicles due to the weather conditions.

Two lorry drivers could face prosecution after their trucks overturned on the A1 yesterday despite the major road being closed as high winds battered the Capital.

The accidents prompted transport chiefs to plead with drivers not to ignore safety advice.

The Lothians experienced a day of disruption with visitor attractions closed in fierce gales and lashing rain.

Two lorry drivers could face prosecution after their trucks overturn during high winds on A1 PICS: Police Scotland

“Please do not ignore Police Safety advice on this route. There are gusts of 68mph,” Traffic Scotland wrote on Twitter.

Police closed the A1 to lorries between the A720 at Old Craighall and the English border, and all vehicles between Haddington and Thistly Cross.

One lorry overturned between Thistly Cross and the Spot Roundabout.

Another overturned lorry was partially blocking the road at Thorntonloch.

One lorry overturned between Thistly Cross and the Spot Roundabout.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said officers attended the scene and no one was injured.

The force later tweeted that both drivers had been reported to the procurator fiscal and the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland.

Previous examples

In 2017, the driver of a lorry that overturned on the Forth Road Bridge, blocking it for 19 hours, was fined £1,000 and banned from driving for two years.

Another overturned lorry was partially blocking the road at Thorntonloch.

Aleksander Niemiec, 55, from Cheshire, was also ordered to re-sit the driving test and HGV licence test after pleading guilty to dangerous driving by failing to comply with road signs.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the incident at about 2am damaged 14 metres of the metal railing on the central carriageway.

A number of city attractions and public spaces were closed yesterday morning because of the weather.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Zoo, St Andrew Square Garden, and West Princes Street Gardens were all shut to the public.

A Castle spokesperson wrote on Twitter: “We are delaying opening of the Castle due to the current weather conditions and are assessing the situation closely. We will keep you updated when we have more information.”

Edinburgh Airport reported no weather issues, but passengers were advised to check with airlines.

The Forth Road Bridge was closed to double decker buses, motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians.

Autonomous buses which are due to operate over the Forth Road Bridge from late this year would continue to run in strong winds so long as it remained open to single deckers, bus firm Stagecoach said.

It said the drivers, who will remain on board, would take over if the bridge was closed and they had to be diverted over the adjacent Queensferry Crossing.

The company said it was hoped that eventually the buses would be able to autonomously switch to the new bridge during such diversions.

The Met Office issued yellow warnings of wind for parts of Scotland between 5am and 9pm – though a better forecast of moderate breezes and sunny intervals was forecast for today.