DETERIORATING regional roads are being blamed for a spike in road emergencies in rural Victoria last year.

According to data from Ambulance Victoria’s 2023-24 report, there was a consistent rise in the number of regional road emergencies attended during that time, an increase of 24.5 per cent since 2018-19.

Urgent Code 1 incidents increased by 38.5 per cent over the same period – a total of 121,551 callouts.

Euroa MP Annabelle Cleeland said this trend was 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’s not the case across our state.”

Ms Cleeland said regional maintenance works dropped by 95 per cent last year and current funding is nowhere near meeting demand.

She also said the Goulburn Valley Highway between Nagambie and Shepparton was found in recent surveys to be the fourth worst road in Victoria.

Roads around Violet Town, Euroa, and Seymour were also identified as among some of the worst.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) also said locals were paying with their lives for ‘years’ of road neglect after a recent report showed an increase in road fatalities of 156 per cent compared to the same time last year.

VFF President Brett Hosking said the state of regional Victoria’s roads was a major contributing factor to the toll and called on governments to urgently fix the issue.

“The tragic reality is you're more than three times likely to lose your life when driving on country roads when compared to driving in the city,” Mr Hosking said.

“Rural Victorian roads have sadly claimed 23 lives this year.

“These aren’t just statistics, it’s our friends, family, and loved ones.

“Enough is enough.”

Ms Cleeland said the state of regional roads contributed to local productivity.

“The flow-on effect…is also placing additional pressure on our already overstretched ambulance services and hospital emergency departments.

“Under Labor, our roads have been left to decay to conditions that are simply unsafe.”

Mr Hosking said ‘genuine questions’ must be asked about what was contributing to road collisions and called on all governments to urgently address funding shortfalls.

“There’s no doubt the state of country roads is a huge factor,” Mr Hosking said.

“Drivers are expected to maintain road worthy cars.

“It’s time for cars to drive (on) car worthy roads to ensure drivers aren’t playing a daily game of roads roulette.”