TRANSPORT Scotland believes it is better prepared than ever to keep Scotland's roads clear this winter.

The ­organisation said an enhancement of its winter service linked to improved contracts with road maintenance firms Bear Scotland and Amey means roads and pavements will be treated quicker than before, using around 500 operatives with almost 200 gritters based at 44 depots across Scotland.

Transport Scotland said the new contracts include the requirement to treat the roads with salt even more quickly than before, ahead of heavy snow.

The agency added that all the country's motorways are being patrolled during periods of risk so staff can react quickly to changing conditions.

Transport Minister Keith Brown has said Scotland already has more salt in stock for use on the roads than was used in the whole of last year.

The National Traffic Control Centre in South Queensferry is monitoring conditions across the country and any response to major incidents will be co-ordinated from there.

Partners including Police ­Scotland and the Met Office will also work alongside representatives from the transport networks.

Transport Scotland said ­information on conditions will be given to the public as quickly as possible through the Traffic ­Scotland website, internet radio or its Twitter feed, where the hashtag #winterinfo will be used to flag up the most relevant weather-related information.

Advice has also been issued to walkers and skiers to help avoid tragedy on Scotland's mountains this winter.

Mountain rescue teams helped 720 people - with 240 injured and 25 fatalities - in 2012, the last full year for which figures are available.

The Scottish Government said it will provide £1.5 million towards mountain safety this year, including £312,000 annual grant funding for mountain rescue teams and £866,000 for the sportscotland national outdoor training centre at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore.

Four years ago, severe winter weather forced the closure of the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh for several days when gritters ­struggled to melt ice, leaving hundreds of cars abandoned.

At the time, then first ­minister Alex Salmond admitted that his government had been "caught out" by a "perfect storm" of heavy snow and bitter cold. Stewart Stevenson, who was transport minister, later resigned after heavy criticism of his handling of the issue.

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said yesterday: "The last week has seen the first wave of winter weather for most people and Transport Scotland has played its role in the standard multi-agency response, which was well planned in advance.

"We cannot stop winter weather but we do all we can to mitigate its effects and when there is disruption, our priority is to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

"It is essential for people to get the latest information about conditions as quickly as possible and the Traffic Scotland Twitter feed will be using the #winterinfo hashtag this year to help people easily find out what is happening on the roads."

A spokesman for local authority umbrella group Cosla said: "Scotland's councils are fully prepared for the winter weather, all have contingency plans and emergency plans in place. All have appropriate salt levels and other such supplies/equipment."

The Scottish Government has launched its Ready for Winter? campaign to encourage all Scots to think about getting prepared for whatever the harsher weather may throw at the nation.

Recent research by the ­Scottish Government and the British Red Cross revealed the milder ­conditions throughout the year meant people were now less worried about the threat of severe weather, and many remain unprepared for a harsh winter.

Meanwhile, health boards across Scotland have been preparing to meet demand over the winter months following a total investment of an extra £18.2 million from the Scottish Government.

The additional investment includes £8.2m to improve the way emergency care operates within hospitals and £10m to address delayed discharge issues.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has received almost £1m of this ­funding which is being used to help stop people being admitted to or delayed in hospital unnecessarily, as well as reduce delays in discharging or admitting patients from A&E.