OVER recent months, the RACV asked Victorians to participate in a road safety survey to identify the top 20 worst roads and worst conditions and yesterday published the results.

The ‘My Country Survey’ results were unsurprising with 64 per cent of respondents identifying ‘potholes or road conditions’ as the top issue of the road they were reporting - an increase from 46 per cent in 2021.

The dangerous behaviours of other drivers (32 per cent), narrow lanes or road (29 per cent), intersection safety issues (26 per cent), and limited overtaking opportunities (24 per cent) were also raised by respondents as concerning safety issues.

Whilst Southern Grampians Shire didn’t make it into the top 20 locations for the worst roads, regional roads fared significantly with the Princes and Western Highways listed at five and six respectively.

Overall, 14 per cent of respondents supported ‘a lower or more appropriate speed limit’ as a measure to improve road safety.

That response rose to 56 per cent on the 12 worst roads, highlighting that many Victorians believe reducing the speed on highly dangerous roads was an appropriate approach.

Regarding electric vehicles (EVs), the survey was also an opportunity for motorists to let RACV know what they think of them, and barriers to uptake.

While 36 per cent of participants have considered buying an EV, just seven per cent of the survey participants are current EV owners.

The top two reasons participants gave for deciding not to drive an EV were that they were currently too expensive to purchase and have limited battery range.

46 per cent of participants have a preference for more charging stations at service stations and rest stops.

The largest demographic for survey respondents by age were those aged between 56-69 at 34 per cent followed by 45 to 55-year-olds at 31 per cent of the total number of participants.

Local roads advocate, Jason Bendeich regularly travels extensively across the south west and has been keeping a log of the worst roads and conditions he experiences to inform State MPs.

“The Henty Highway I travelled on today is not great – it is particularly bad between Heywood and Portland,” he said.

“Another one is the Glenelg Highway east of Glenthompson, and then from Coleraine to Casterton as well.  There has been some work done there and that has held up well but the other 96 per cent is not great.

“Another one is the Digby Road particularly near Dartmoor – it is in pretty bad shape also.”