AN Orange orchadist has called on the state government to invest more in fixhing deteriorating roads instead of lowering speed limits when roads get too dangerous.
Guy Gaeta criticised lowering speed limits at Thursday’s transport forum, describing Orange’s blanket 50km/h speed limit as embarrassing.
“We drive better cars and safer cars and better trucks and yet we drive slower,” he said.
“I’ve spoke to them [the government] in the past and they’re scared to change it because if there’s a bad accident they’ll get blamed.”
Mr Gaeta said residents at Cargo had an extra 20 minutes added to their journey into Orange because of the interchanging 80km/h and 90km/h speed zones.
“It would cost me my livelihood if I lost my license,” he said.
“I’ve been booked a few times.”
Roads minister Duncan Gay said he was aware of the frustration for drivers in the area.
“We looked at it [the Cargo Road speed limit] but frankly we couldn’t, it just needs a bit more work before we can lift it,” he said.
Mr Gaeta believes the government decided to increase the speed limit at Lucknow from 50 to 60km/h because the road surface has recently been upgraded, while the Cargo Road and others were neglected.
He also cited a safer link with Sydney and a Bells Line upgrade as a necessity for business in the region.
“I travel it from one time to five times a week and I feel safer in my truck than in my car,” he said.
“It’s a dangerous road. It’s been neglected like everything else west of Katoomba.”