Melba Highway: The worst road in the state

THE RACV recently released the results of its My Country Road survey. More than 7000 Victorians providing important data on the safety of regional roads across the state.

The worst road in the state for safety was found to be the Melba Highway from Coldstream to Yea.

The Melba Highway was followed by Tylden-Woodend Road from Woodend to Tylden, Kilmore Road from Monegeetta to Gisborne, and the Goulburn Valley Highway from Nagambie to Shepparton.

Potholes and poor road condition were the top issues identified, with an overwhelming 64 per cent of participants identifying these as the primary safety issue, up from 46 per cent in 2021.

Potholes are a major safety risk for drivers as they try to avoid damaging their vehicles. Swerving to avoid a pothole at the last moment is dangerous as drivers may lose control of their vehicles or swerve into oncoming traffic.

Statewide, the top voted solutions were, 60 per cent were keen to see improve road surface, 23 per cent wanted wider shoulders at the edges of roads, 15 per cent wanted wider lanes, 14 per cent sought a lower or more appropriate speed limit, 13 per cent wanted trees, vegetation or other obstructions cleared, and 12 per cent wanted intersection safety improvements.

RACV is planning to use the data from the survey to encourage the state government and local councils to make commitments that deliver safer regional roads.

RACV Head of Policy, James Williams, said the data from the survey indicated that the condition of regional roads has become a major safety concern for Victorians.

“Over 7000 Victorians have provided us with data about safety on our regional roads, with potholes or poor road condition being the number one safety issue,” Mr Williams said.

“As a safety advocate, it’s important that RACV closely examines what Victorians think are the factors contributing to unsafe road conditions, so we can provide that information to all levels of government and encourage action.

“The number of responses received is a strong indicator that Victorians are concerned about safety on regional roads and are calling for urgent improvement.

“Sixty per cent of survey participants think that improving road surfaces should be the priority road safety solution.

“While in 2021, dangerous driver behaviour was the biggest safety concern on regional roads, this year poor road conditions received more than double the number of responses as dangerous driver behaviour.

“Fifty eight per cent of the survey participants told us that they use…..