New research has highlighted the joint responsibility of metro and rural residents to address the shocking disparity of rural road deaths.

More people die on country roads than on urban streets, and even though less than a third of Australia’s population lives outside major cities, deaths on rural roads account for two-thirds of fatalities.

Russell White, Australia Road Safety Foundation CEO, told 6PR Breakfast that the attitude towards country roads needs to change for all drivers.

“The big thing that we’ve got to try and do is change the level of understanding that it is a road user issue as equally as it is a police or government issue,” he told Gareth Parker.

“I think we’ve got to look at how we engage greater community ownership and greater responsibility.”

Mr White said that people need to realise that rural road deaths are a problem for everyone to acknowledge.

“Help can be a long, long way from finding or even getting to you in the first instance if something happens,” he said.

“People tend to be a bit more blasé about sticking to road rules and that particular situation.”

Press PLAY to hear what Russell White hopes to change on our roads for safer driving.