INTERIM results of the State Opposition’s campaign asking drivers to vote for Victoria’s worst road have identified Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road and local sections of the Glenelg Highway as the region’s most dangerous roads.

However, they do not fit into the top five most voted-for roads state-wide, nor do any in western Victoria.

Stretches of road in central and eastern Victoria instead topped votes two months into the three-month campaign, according to Shadow Roads Minister, Steph Ryan.

Ms Ryan encouraged Victorians – especially in areas less represented in the interim results – to continue to contribute to the campaign, which will develop a priority list to give to Roads Minister, Ben Carroll.

She said the campaign was every driver’s opportunity to contribute to saving lives as the road toll continued to rise.

“Rough, potholed roads are putting Victorian lives at risk every day but the truth is this risk could be avoided,” Ms Ryan said.

“Deep cuts to road maintenance mean our roads are littered with rough potholes and crumbling road shoulders that, in some instances, have left the road so narrow it’s impossible to safely overtake another car – let alone a truck.

“This road safety campaign hands the power back to the people who are driving our roads every day so we can properly prioritise the roads that are most desperately in need of repair.”

Locals could still vote for Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road and the Glenelg Highway to push them further up the rankings.

It comes after reports at least 20 senior staff have left Regional Roads Victoria’s in the wake of the State Government’s cuts to spending on road asset management.

Ms Ryan said the cuts demonstrated RRV was “nothing more than a branding exercise” for the government.

“A mass exodus of RRV’s senior staff won’t help fix neglected, unsafe country roads,” she said.

“We are asking drivers across the state to keep voting for the most dangerous roads they see so we can take this list straight to (Mr Carroll) while he’s in parliament.”

Less than $600 million was announced in this year’s State Budget for road asset management, compared to more than $820 million two years ago.

The Opposition also accused the government of putting less effort into road safety by cutting targets on road safety initiatives from a high of 73 to just 34 this year.

It promised to deliver more funds for road maintenance as part of its regional infrastructure guarantee, if elected in November’s state election.

The guarantee would ensure 25 per cent of infrastructure funding – including for roads, schools, hospitals and community sports facilities – was allocated to rural Victoria, equivalent to its share in the state’s population.

To submit a vote for Victoria’s worst road, visit www.vicsworstroad.vote.