In reply to jonnie3430:
These, of course, are only the centrally funded and contractorised trunk road gritters.
This morning across the Highlands, those of us with long memories drove to work in white-decorated frustration remembering the 1990s reign of Phil Shimmin at the council transport department. In those days the winter roads were either black or, after temperatures defeated gritting, ploughed but completely white and we probably had the best cleared roads in Europe.
One organisational theme of the 90s was regional transport authorities (never happened) which would have unified clearing efforts even more than the council regime. Instead, we have gone in the opposite direction and involved as many organisations as possible, divided budgets and reduced standards.
It might be that outside some lowland politicians second home further south the road clearing has improved. However, for many thousands of people and businesses across the north where this is important during a large part of most winters, standards are sinking ever lower and eating into their quality of life and economic viability.