Most Australians see country roads as risky, survey finds

A new Youi Insurance survey of more than 1,000 Australians finds country roads are widely seen as dangerous unless drivers are careful. Speeding, road conditions and unfamiliarity are the biggest concerns, and most respondents want practical safety upgrades.

Why it matters: - Country roads are a daily reality for regional Australians, and the survey suggests many drivers still underestimate how quickly conditions can become dangerous. - The findings point to risks that come from both driver behavior and road design, with implications for safety, travel time and vehicle choice. - Only 2% of respondents said country roads are already safe enough, signaling broad support for change.

What happened: - Youi Insurance commissioned research surveying 1,058 Australians aged 18 and over across all states and territories. - The survey found only 12% of Australians felt “very safe” on country roads. - More than 2 in 5 respondents, or 43%, said they feel safe only when driving with care. - Another 1 in 3 said they feel “safe enough.”

The details: - Respondents ranked unsafe speed as the biggest contributor to dangerous country road situations, at 68%. - Poor road conditions followed at 50%. - Driver inexperience or unfamiliarity with roads came in at 48%. - Fatigue from long-distance driving registered at 47%. - Wildlife on or crossing the road was cited by 45%. - Limited visibility through bends and hills was cited by 42%. - Among Baby Boomers, 78% identified unsafe speeds as a primary risk, the highest share of any generation. - 29% of respondents said they encounter unsafe driving weekly or multiple times per week. - Another 30% said they encounter unsafe driving at least monthly. - Only 8% said they have never encountered unsafe driving on country roads. - Gen Z drivers reported the highest frequency of unsafe behavior, with 45% saying they witness it weekly. - Half of respondents said poor road conditions and infrastructure contribute to unsafe situations. - Victorians and Western Australians were more likely than the national average to name poor conditions, at 57% to 58% versus 50% nationally. - The most requested improvements were better road conditions, pavement repairs, wider shoulders, and better lighting and bridges, at 61%. - More overtaking lanes and slow-vehicle bays followed at 50%. - Reducing speed limits in high-risk areas was cited by 43%. - Increasing signage and hazard warnings was also cited by 43%. - The top safety behaviors were patience and avoiding risky overtaking, at 56%; keeping a safe following distance and avoiding tailgating, at 52%; and driving at a consistent, appropriate speed, at 46%. - Among people aged 65 to 74, 65% ranked patience and avoiding risky overtaking as a top safety behavior. - Baby Boomers were also most supportive of pulling over into slow bays to let faster traffic pass, at 47% versus 35% nationally.

Between the lines: - The survey suggests the main problem is not just road quality but the mismatch between driver confidence and the realities of rural driving. - The results also show a generational split: older drivers focus more on patience and speed management, while younger drivers report more frequent exposure to unsafe behavior. - The data point to a common view that safer country roads need both better infrastructure and better driver discipline.

What’s next: - The research points to a practical safety agenda centered on road upgrades, more passing opportunities, clearer warnings and lower speeds in the highest-risk areas. - For drivers heading into regional areas, the survey reinforces the need to match driving habits and insurance cover to conditions. - Youi directs readers to its country road safety research and car insurance information for more details.