Road users plan to rally this weekend to remember those lost to road trauma, campaign for a higher standard of safety on country roads and to halt the rollout of wire-rope barriers.
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Organisers are hoping for up to 500 people to assemble at the Rosalind Park rotunda from noon on Sunday.
They want to send a message to whichever party next forms government that it must “take control of road safety” and hold road authorities to account.
They also want to see wire rope barrier rollouts end. The barriers have been heavily criticised by groups including the Motorcycle Riders Association.
“We are pretty sure that if the next state government halts the rollout of wire rope it will never start again,” the group’s Damien Codognotto OAM said.
“There are only a few places in the world that use it to any great extent.”
Motorcyclist Phil ‘Whitey’ White died after coming off his vehicle following a collision with a kangaroo near Taradale in 2017 and his family believe wire rope barriers on the stretch of road hindered his chance of survival.
Mr White’s widow and daughter are scheduled to speak at the rally and have previously urged the state government to halt the rollout.
Last February, the Liberal and National parties committed to halt and then review wire rope barriers should they win government.
A spokesman for roads and road safety minister Luke Donnellan has previously told the Bendigo Advertiser barriers prevent up to 85 per cent of head on and run-off-the-road crashes.
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