Drivers faced lengthy tailbacks and diversions after sections of the M8 and A77 were closed due to early morning incidents.

It was a second day of misery for commuters after having to battle through snow yesterday as the first taste of winter struck.

A 43-year-old man was killed in a two-lorry smash on the southbound carriageway of the M73, at the Baillieston Interchange near Glasgow, at about 12.30pm yesterday, but it was not known if the weather had any bearing on the accident.

One of the lorries was carrying diesel fuel, which leaked from the truck following the crash and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Amey Highways had to carry out a clean-up operation to deal with the spillage.

The victim has not yet been named and an investigation is continuing. Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

In particular, officers would like to trace the driver of a gold car, who is believed to have been involved in an incident before the crash.

However, police stressed they do not believe the earlier incident directly contributed to the crash.

As yesterday's snow turned to ice, drivers were today being warned to take extra care on the roads.

The Clydeside Expressway, Glasgow, was closed after a car crashed into a broken down vehicle. Traffic had to be diverted.

In Lanarkshire, a lorry jackknifed on the M8 at junction 6 Newhouse about 4.15am today, closing the westbound carriageway.

The lorry was removed around three hours later, but the road could not be reopened until the surface had been gritted and fuel washed away.

In Ayrshire, a man was taken to hospital after a crash on the A77, close to the Kilmaurs turn-off.

Emergency services were alerted about 5.50am after a driver was injured when his car struck a lamppost.

He was trapped in his vehicle and freed around an hour later. He was treated at the scene by paramedics, who took him by ambulance to hospital.

One lane was blocked on the M73 northbound between junction 2, M8 Baillieston and junction 2a, A752 Gartcosh because of a multi-vehicle accident.

In Inverclyde, early morning bus services were affected when operators McGill's temporarily suspended services due to black ice.

There was also hazardous driving conditions on the M8 between junction 5 Shotts and junction 4 Whitburn because of ice and snow.

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for all parts of the country, with the heaviest snow forecast in the north and north west regions.

Temperatures are expected to remain about 3-4ºC today in the Glasgow area.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "With the cold snap continuing overnight, we have seen a few incidents that have caused some disruption.

"That is why the Multi Agency Response Team and Scottish Government Resilience Room remain operational.

"Our operating companies have also worked through the night, with more than 120 gritters out on the trunk roads and motorways to treat every route at least once.

"We are all working hard to keep Scotland moving and get back to normal where disruption does occur.

"We urge the public to continue to exercise care; plan your journey, listen to police advice and check available travel updates."

Chris Burton, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said there had been some snow showers overnight, but had melted causing icy conditions when temperatures dipped below freezing.

He said: "Temperatures were just below freezing overnight with around -2ºC in the outskirts of Glasgow.

"The coldest place in Scotland was Drumnadrochit with -4ºC.

"There will be more sleet and rain today, with temperatures of about 5ºC. It will warm up over the next two days, but there will also be more wind and heavy rain."

Some schools were closed yesterday in South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Highlands because of the snow.

All three local authorities said their schools are expected to open as normal today.

deborah.anderson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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