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Victoria's most dangerous regional roads revealed: My Country Road results 2026
RACV's 2026 My Country Road survey has revealed the worst highway in the state, as well as the roads with the most safety concerns across regional Victoria.
The most dangerous roads in regional and rural Victoria have been revealed as part of RACV's 2026 My Country Road survey.
More than 6,000 respondents who took part in the survey were asked to identify which roads across country Victoria they thought posed the greatest risk to safety, with one road in Victoria's southwest topping the list.
The most dangerous road in country Victoria
The Princes Highway West between Colac and Camperdown was voted the most dangerous road in regional Victoria in the 2026 My Country Road survey.
This road received the highest number of overall nominations due to safety concerns such as the road’s surface condition, limited overtaking opportunities, and roadside vegetation.
"This road carries a significant amount of passenger and freight traffic daily, and yet it is a single-lane carriageway with few safe overtaking opportunities," says RACV Head of Public Policy James Williams. "What this section of road really needs is to be duplicated to a freeway standard."
Respondents also said the road could be made safer through intersection upgrades and improvements to signage and line markings.
Another section of the Princes Highway, between Portland and Port Fairy, was deemed the second-most dangerous country road in Victoria, while the Loddon Valley Highway between Bendigo and Kerang took out third place.
Notably, several of the top 10 most concerning country roads for 2026 were repeat offenders, having also featured in the 2024 My Country Road survey's top 10. These included the Princes Highway and Melba Highway.
The top 10 roads with safety concerns in country Victoria 2026
| Rank | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Princes Highway West, Colac to Camperdown |
Southwest |
|
2 |
Princes Highway West, Portland to Port Fairy |
Southwest |
|
3 |
Loddon Valley Highway, Bendigo to Kerang |
Northwest |
|
4 |
Midland Highway, Ballarat to Daylesford |
Western |
|
5 |
Western Highway, Ararat to Stawell |
Western |
|
6 |
Melba Highway, Yea to Dixons Creek |
Northeast |
|
7 |
Goulburn Valley Highway & Maroondah Highway, Yea to Mansfield |
Northeast |
|
8 |
Western Highway, Ballarat to Trawalla |
Western |
|
9 |
Murray Valley Highway, Wodonga to Tallangatta |
Northeast |
|
10 |
Northern Highway, Echuca to Heathcote |
Northwest |
More than 6,000 people took part in RACV's 2026 My Country Road survey, with most respondents concerned about the southwest of the state. Image: Matt Harvey
How the 2026 My Country Road survey worked
RACV, in association with the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), used Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) data on traffic volume and crash history to create a shortlist of 52 country road sections that were identified as high-risk. These 52 sections of road were split among five regions of Victoria (Southwest, Western, Northwest, Northeast and Eastern).
Survey respondents were invited to select a region, identify the shortlisted road sections they considered most dangerous, explain the issues, and suggest how the roads could be improved. They could also nominate roads not on the short list.
Roads with the most safety concerns per region
Overall, the Southwest region received the highest number of responses (23 per cent) in the 2026 My Country Road survey, followed by the Northeast (22 per cent), Northwest (20 per cent, Western (18 per cent) and Eastern (17 per cent) regions.
Every region had roads represented in the top 20 roads that were flagged for safety concerns in the 2026 My Country Road survey, with Eastern the only region missing from the top 10.
Southwest region
- Princes Highway West, Colac to Camperdown
- Princes Highway West, Portland to Port Fairy
- Henty Highway, Portland to Hamilton
Western region
- Midland Highway, Ballarat to Daylesford
- Western Highway, Ararat to Stawell
- Western Highway, Ballarat to Trawalla
Northwest region
- Loddon Valley Highway, Bendigo to Kerang
- Northern Highway, Echuca to Heathcote
- Northern Highway and McIvor Highway, Wallan to Bendigo
Northeast region
- Melba Highway, Yea to Dixons Creek
- Goulburn Valley Highway and Maroondah Highway, Yea to Mansfield
- Murray Valley Highway, Wodonga to Tallangatta
Eastern region
- Strzelecki Highway, Leongatha to Mirboo North
- Princes Highway East, Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance
- South Gippsland Highway, Loch to Leongatha
Potholes were the most common issue raised in the 2026 My Country Road survey, with 71 per cent of respondents nominating it as an issue. Image: Matt Harvey
Potholes the number one concern on country roads
The My Country Road survey also asked respondents which issues they believed were making regional roads dangerous, with participants able to nominate multiple concerns.
Potholes and poor road condition were perceived as the biggest issue, with about seven in 10 respondents (71 per cent) nominating them as a road safety concern. By comparison, 64 per cent of respondents cited the issue in RACV’s 2024 My Country Road survey.
“Victorians have told us that the state’s crumbling road network is what worries them most,” says Williams.
"Seven in 10 of the concerns raised through this campaign came back to potholes and deteriorating surfaces, and almost three-quarters of the fixes people asked for were as simple as resurfacing the road."
Read more: What causes potholes and how to help avoid them damaging your car.
Other road safety issues nominated include:
- Limited overtaking opportunities/ need for duplication (13%)
- Roadside hazards/ vegetation (3%)
- Signage and line-marking issues (10%)
- Speed management concerns (10%)
- Roadside protection/ barrier gaps (3%)
- Other nominated road safety concerns (5%)
The changes Victorians want made to their country roads
Respondents also had the opportunity to nominate road improvements they’d like made. More than 10,000 improvement requests were submitted, with the top responses including:
- Resurfacing roads (73%)
- Duplicating lanes (11%)
- Other improvements (4%)
- Removing vegetation or other hazards (3%)
- Improving signage or line markings (3%)
- Lowering speed limits (3%)
- Installing crash-resistant barriers (3%)
Lane duplication, encroaching vegetation, and signage issues were among the issues raised in the My Country Road survey. Image: Matt Harvey
Dangerous roads identified by data
The 52 shortlisted sections of roads used in the 2026 My Country Road survey were determined by analysing data from AusRAP. This national program identifies roads that pose a high risk of death or serious injury and gives roads a rating between 1 star (least safe) and 5 stars (most safe) depending on the following factors:
- Roadside hazards
- Presence and type of barriers
- Lane and shoulder width
- Road surface condition
- Travel speeds
- Traffic volumes.
"It is a compelling story that the visibility of potholes and rough surfaces is front of mind for road users," says Williams. "But we must also be mindful of these less obvious road design issues that are highlighted in this data and that are unforgiving in the event of a crash."
How will the data from My Country Road be used?
RACV will use the results of the 2026 My Country Road survey to engage with government and advocate for investment in road safety improvements across the state.
My Country Road forms part of the Have Your Say survey series which, together with My Melbourne Road and My Home, helps RACV to continue to advocate for Victorians on the issues that are most important to them.
