Truckies are being asked to name the state’s worst roads in a new campaign to identify the most dangerous hazards that are risking lives on our roads every day.
Launched today by opposition leader Matthew Guy and shadow minister for roads Steph Ryan, the three-month campaign to find Victoria’s worst roads will seek safety reports straight from drivers.
Truckies can submit road condition reports as they travel the state via an online portal in an effort to build a list of the roads most in need of maintenance.
“Decades of neglect has left Victoria’s roads rough and potholed, risking the lives of motorcyclists, car drivers and truckies every single day,” Guy said.
“There have been 76 lives lost on Victorian roads already this year, but Labor is spending less on maintaining and repairing the state’s roads network.
“Meanwhile, the Andrews Labor government has found more than $24 billion to pour into plugging its cost overruns on poorly managed major projects.”
The state Labor government carved nearly $200 million from road asset maintenance in last year’s state budget alone, a 25 per cent cut down to $616 million.
In a joint campaign launch release, Guy and Ryan also added that since elected in 2014, Labor has axed funds for targeted maintenance of local roads by abolishing the Country Roads and Bridges Program and disbanded the joint parliamentary committee that had overseen road safety since 1967.
Ryan told Big Rigs that truckies had an important role to play in exposing the problems.
She said a recent ride-along in a Western Star with Wimmera grain farmer Ryan Milgate and Nationals MP for Lowan Emma Kealy was an eye-opening experience, to say the least.
“The Donald-Murtoa Road out the front of his place, has 18 signs in a stretch warning motorists of the rough surface, and has the speed limit permanently reduced to 80km/h because it’s in such a poor state,” said Ryan.
“It’s like the Andrews government has just given up and I think that’s the feeling across much of country Victoria.
“The government argues that road surfaces aren’t a road safety issue, but I would strongly contest that, particularly when you spend time with someone like Ryan.”
Steph Ryan said the results of the campaign will feed into the opposition’s policy development at the next state election.
“But I hope we see some action before then. I don’t think we should have to wait for a state election, seven or eight months away to actually get some change.”
Visit vicsworstroad.vote to have your say.