Community
17 April, 2024
Have your say on road safety
LOCALS have been invited to have their say on the safety of regional roads.
RACV is inviting motorists from across the state to take part in the ‘My Country Road’ survey about the safety of roads in regional Victoria.
The survey results will be shared with the government to help make regional roads safer for Victorians.
The survey uses an online interactive map which shows high-speed roads with large concentrations of accidents causing death or serious injury in regional Victoria.
The map highlights roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or higher where there have been fatal or serious crashes for the five-year period between 2018 and 2023.
Participants can provide feedback by clicking on one of the highlighted roads and filling out a survey.
Those completing the survey are also able to nominate another road in regional Victoria they believe poses a risk to drivers.
RACV general manager automotive services Jackie Pedersen said the survey results will be used to help make regional roads safer.
“We will share the results with all levels of government, so we can work together to improve safety outcomes for Victorians,” she said.
“RACV conducted the first My Country Road survey back in 2021 and 31 regional roads were highlighted as having serious safety issues.
“Of these, 16 have seen infrastructure upgrades commence or committed to by government.”
Ms Pedersen said in 2023 there were 174 deaths on regional Victorian roads, which was an almost 30 per cent increase on the previous year.
“Given these tragic numbers, it is more important than ever that Victorians help us to make country roads safer by completing this year’s survey,” she said.
“Once again, we want to find out what people think of the state’s most dangerous regional roads.
“For example, is the speed limit too high given the condition of the road? What are the potential dangers in the road design like narrow lanes, power poles or trees too close to the road? Are the roads poorly sign posted or damaged? Or are there regularly unexpected things on the road like livestock, or native animals?
“We want to gather as much data as we can to encourage the state government and local councils to make commitments that deliver safer regional roads and help save lives.”
The survey closes on May 7.
To complete it visit racvhaveyoursay.com.au/my-country-road-2024.