Since 2018-19, the total number of rural emergency road incidents attended by Ambulance Victoria increased by 24.5 per cent, while urgent Code 1 incidents have increased by 38.5 per cent over the same period for a total of 121,551 callouts.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said this trend has been matched with cuts to road maintenance funding.
“The condition of regional roads plays a crucial role in keeping regional road users safe,” Ms Cleeland said.
“While there are a range of factors that contribute to road incidents, safe infrastructure should be a priority and sadly that is not the case across our state.
“Road maintenance works in regional Victoria dropped by 95 per cent last year and current funding is nowhere meeting demand.”
Ms Cleeland said failing to maintain roads in the past few years not only made it unsafe for motorists, but also contributed to a range of other factors hurting regional communities.
“The flow on effect of increasing in road crashes is also placing additional pressure on our already overstretched ambulance services and hospital emergency departments,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The Goulburn Valley Hwy between Nagambie and Shepparton was regarded as the fourth-worst road in the state in recent surveys, with the left lane virtually undriveable in parts.
“Other roads such as the Kilmore-Lancefield Rd was ranked 13th in the same survey, while concerns have been made to me directly from all parts of our electorate, including roads in Murchison, Violet Town, Euroa, Heathcote, Seymour and Benalla.”
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