Comment
THE recommendation to cut speed limits on country roads in the recent final report into the inquiry into the increase in Victoria stood out the all the wrong reasons.
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Make no mistake, the overrepresentation of regional Victorians in our road roll is tragic but slashing speed limits in response is a band-aid solution to a bigger problem.
Speed reductions would have a detrimental impact on the rural communities and farmers who rely on the road networks, adding significant additional time and cost for rural drivers.
Decision makers must address the issue at its core. It's clear that all roads in Victoria, not just those in the city, must be designed and properly maintained to ensure they are fit for purpose and, most importantly, safe for users.
The dilapidated state of our regional road network has only been highlighted in our recent bumper grain harvest as more and more trucks hit our crumbling roads.
We need a commitment from the Victorian government as recommended by the inquiry to publish an annual report on road standards that states the star rating for highways, arterial roads.
As part of this, the Victorian government would be obliged to undertake and publish research to determine the cost and timeframe of ensuring all highways, arterial roads and other roads of significance in Victoria are a minimum three-star rating.
It all comes back to adequate funding and that's why in the lead-up to next month's State Budget the VFF will be maintaining calls for a significant increase in funding for both arterial and local road maintenance.
It's time those responsible for our regional road network were made to be accountable and understand the absolute necessity of a modern, efficient and most importantly, a safe road network is a non-negotiable.
