Drivers are being asked to provide feedback about how safe they feel on roads in regional Victoria.
RACV is again running its My Country Road survey.
The survey uses an online interactive map that shows high-speed roads with large concentrations of crashes causing death or serious injury in regional Victoria.
The map highlights roads with speed limits of 80km/h or higher where there have been fatal or serious crashes for the five years between 2018 and 2023.
Participants can provide feedback by clicking on one of the highlighted roads and completing a survey.
Participants are also welcome to nominate another road in regional Victoria that poses a risk to drivers.
The survey is also an opportunity for feedback on electric vehicles and their accessibility of ownership.
RACV automotive services general manager Jackie Pedersen said RACV would use the survey results to help make regional roads safer for motorists.
“We will share the results with all levels of government, so we can work together to improve safety outcomes for Victorians,” Ms Pedersen 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.”
In 2023, there were 174 deaths on regional Victorian roads – an almost 30 per cent increase on the previous year.
Forty-one deaths occurred on roads within a 50-minute drive of the Shepparton central business district between New Year’s Eve 2022 and the end of 2023.
“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,” Ms Pedersen said.
“Once again, we want to find out what people think of the state’s most dangerous regional roads.”
Ms Pedersen said RACV wanted to hear from people about things like whether the speed limit was too high given the road’s condition, as well as potential dangers in the road design like narrow lanes, power poles or trees too close to the road.
It also wanted to know whether people thought roads were poorly signposted or damaged, or if there were 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,” Ms Pedersen said.
The My Country Road survey opened on Tuesday, March 26, and will run for six weeks.
To take part in the survey, visit www.racv.com.au/haveyoursay