Tuesday 30 July 2024
An alarming RACV survey has exposed Victoria’s most dangerous roads, with poor surface conditions now surpassing dangerous driver behaviour as the top safety concern for motorists.
The survey, which gathered responses from more than 7000 Victorians, comes amid constant and growing concerns about the Allan Labor Government’s road maintenance funding cuts and driver safety.
Key findings in the My Country Road survey include:
64 per cent of Victorian motorists cite potholes and poor road conditions as their primary safety concern.
The 65km Melba Highway stretch between Coldstream and Yea tops the list of worst regional roads.
More than 300 collisions have been recorded on the top five worst roads in the past decade.
60 per cent believe improving road surfaces should be the priority for safety solutions.
Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said the results again underlined the Allan Labor Government’s insipid and irresponsible approach to road maintenance.
Funding for resurfacing and resealing contracts for Victorian roads in the 2023/24 financial year has dropped dramatically, with only $37.6 million spent across the state – that’s compared to $201.4 million the previous year.
“Successive years of budget cuts have left our roads in a dire state and this budget ensures they won’t get better,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The Allan Labor Government is creating a time bomb through a lack of attention to roads, while it wastes billions of dollars in cost over-runs on city mega-projects.”
The survey results highlight the need for immediate action to address road safety issues across Victoria.
With maintenance funding slashed and speed limits reduced on numerous roads due to poor conditions, the RACV is urging the government to prioritise road improvements and invest in critical infrastructure upgrades.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our roads and Victorians are paying the price,” Mr O’Brien said.
