VICTORIA’S GOVERNMENT has come under fire from the state opposition for ignoring the deteriorating condition of regional roads as a major contributor to the rising road toll.
Recent figures show that although the road toll is dropping throughout the state’s cities and towns, the rural road toll is on the rise, corresponding with condition reports which show road conditions declining.
Deputy Leader of the National Party, Peter Walsh, presented figures from both the Transport Accident Commision (TAC) as well as reports from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
“Figures released by the Transport Accident Commission show the road toll for rural roads to midnight 16 July 2009 has increased 14 per cent compared to this time last year,” Mr Walsh said to Drive.
Comparing those statistics to the conditions of the state’s rural roads, Mr Walsh added:
“In regional Victoria the length of distressed road increased by 177.9 per cent in the four years leading up to 2006/07, which is completely unacceptable.”
“Roads are classified as distressed when they have degraded to the point where the road pavement is rough, cracked or rutted,” he said.
Victoria’s peak motoring group, the RACV, also drew a direct link between reducing the road toll and improving the state’s roads.
Road deaths in and around Melbourne and Victoria’s regional centres are down for the same period. The TAC indicates that road deaths in Melbourne decreased by seven percent, while in the country the road toll is up from 84 to 96 for the same period, a 14 percent increase.
“This inconsistency shows that Labor should be doing more to improve the state of Victorian country roads to save country lives,” Mr Walsh said.
[Drive]
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That can’t be right. The “ONLY” contributor to the road toll, according to the government, is speed.
Maybe road users could fine the government for every pothole that isn’t fixed since we are the ones paying for safe roads.
Roads in Brisbane are some of the worst IMO, and a lot of the damage and deterioration particularily in my area (bayside, Manly area) the roads are even more shocking. Seems a lot of the deterioration, potholes and extreme bumpiness has been caused by very poor quality repair works over underground pipework upgrades. Most of these roads were perfect, until this.
Infact, I’ve noticed over the last 10 years, the road repair works have steadily gone down hill into pretty pathetic territory - it also seems Brisbane City Council has no quality control of their sub contractors on road repairs these days…
As a result, I’m not overly surprised that this sort of rubbish has an affect on road deaths…
Imaging trying to brake hard from 60km/hr over a large cattle grid (bounce-bounce-bounce). Its not going to work, expecially not when you’re bouncing over the bitumen and the wheels are loosing grip - and the fact that most people have 5yr old + cars with suspensions that no longer function properly to cater for this type of situation….
My 2 cents.
What’s This?
Surely you jest!
I thought there was only three things that contributed to road toll.
Speed
Speed
And…. Speed
Well, that’s what the government keeps ramming down our throats.
I’ve driven many places all over the world and I have to say that Aussie roads certainly fall into the “Some of the worst” category. At least in the developed world.
To give them a break, it can’t be easy.
We’re a massive country with a small population so we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, but surely they can do better than it is currently.
Wardski, Not just Brissie mate…. Sydney roads are complete shyte too!
My last trip to VIC, I thought there roads were better than the stone broke NSW roads
Back to school…..
“My last trip to VIC, I thought THEIR roads were better than the stone broke NSW roads ;)”
definitely agree with you wardski,
brisbane roads, particularly inner city. Im scared my car will be swallowed by a pothole..
Heres hoping that all state and local governments take note of this and do more to improve the quality of our currently poor roads.
i find it funny that brisbane city council spend 20-30millon on lame bike track that no one uses. another 30-40 million on another bridge connecting the city to southbank (whats wrong with the other 2 bridges?) yet the pricks wont fix a pothole down the road that could swallow a small car..
good to see my tax dollars are being spent wisely.. i prefer a nice garden at a round a bout which dies in 2 weeks rather than safer roads..