Why Scotland's potholes are a key test of the state of the nation

Any failure to keep roads in a good condition is a sign of national stress. If the necessary action is not being taken, this is usually because there are not the resources to do so, as budgets are squeezed and other priorities take precedence. And if roads, among the highest-profile infrastructure, are not being looked after properly, then it is almost certain that other, lesser jobs are also not being done, potentially storing up trouble for the future.

Cash-strapped councils may be responsible for most roads but they are usually not truly to blame. Faced with tough choices about how much money can be spent on education, social care and the like because of chronic underfunding by Holyrood, it’s unsurprising if councillors choose to cut road repairs. It has suited the SNP to make councils carry the can for problems that make voters angry.

Motorways and other major roads are the responsibility of Transport Scotland, essentially an arms-length Scottish Government quango. This arrangement again provides a degree of distance between ministers and the reality on the ground, which turns out to be particularly poor.

According to a new Transport Scotland survey, only 24 per cent of drivers were happy with the speed of pothole repairs on trunk roads and only 37 per cent were happy with how well the work was carried out. Alarmingly, the main roads that produced the most complaints were the M8, A90 and A9, three of the most important in Scotland.

These are the kind of figures that should prompt swift action, given potholes can cause accidents, creating a risk to life and limb and a cost to the economy. The question is whether ministers will feel the heat of public anger to the necessary degree.

They should do, because a country that can’t afford to maintain its roads will see its economy contract further as the network slowly crumbles. Conversely, if they manage to increase economic growth, suddenly the money will be available to make sure the tarmac is always smooth, facilitating a further rise in GDP.

Potholes are not trivial. They are a key test of the state of the nation. Thankfully, thousands of motorists test the condition of Scotland’s roads every day. Their findings speak volumes, we can only hope the government will listen.