Potholes and deteriorating road surfaces have emerged as the leading road safety concern for regional Victorians in RACV’s 2026 My Country Road campaign.
More than 6,000 people participated, logging 10,048 requests for road improvements during the seven-week campaign. Road surface conditions and potholes were identified as the number one safety issue by 71 per cent of respondents, up from 64 per cent in RACV’s 2024 survey.
The three road sections receiving the most votes as dangerous were:
- Princes Highway West – Colac to Camperdown
- Princes Highway West – Portland to Port Fairy
- Loddon Valley Highway – Bendigo to Kerang
RACV shortlisted 52 sections of regional highways using Australian Road Assessment Program data, crash history and traffic volumes. Participants could identify concerns and suggest improvements for those roads or nominate other roads.
Resurfacing was the most commonly requested improvement, nominated in 73 per cent of responses. Other concerns included narrow roads and poor shoulders or edges at 12 per cent, while signage, line marking and visibility, speed limits and driver behaviour, and limited overtaking opportunities were each raised in 10 per cent of responses.
RACV Head of Public Policy James Williams said the organisation would use the results to advocate for targeted government investment.
“RACV will take these results to government and press for targeted investment in the roads that the Government’s own safety ratings and regional Victorians have identified,” Mr Williams said.
RACV’s My Country Road campaign is conducted every second year and focuses on identifying road safety concerns and priorities across regional Victoria.
Image: RACV