FREEWAY WHAT?

WHAT DO YOU CALL A MOCK UP OF AN IMPROBABLE ROCK IN AN IMPOSSIBLE COLLISION WITH AN UN LIKELY POWER PYLON?

Art? Doubtful. The artistic value of "freeway art" is generally less than the value of good graffiti.

If I was an accountant, which I'm not, I'd say this "art" was a way to wash off corporate profit so to pay less tax in Australia. These multi-national companies have not demonstrated to me that they are remotely interested in real art.

Nor are they concerned with road safety. You need only look at the box steel posts they used in the wire rope barriers on Melbourne's Eastlink to know that.

And "freeway art" can only be distraction to drivers on toll roads. Driver distraction was identified and documented in the 2006 Victorian Parliamenary Inquiry into road safety. Of course the data on distracted driver crashes on toll roads is simply not collected so they can safely say there is no evidence to suggest "freeway art" may distract drivers and cause crashes.

And, they do not appear to be interested in giving their customers a fair deal by ensuring good traffic flow. They toll motorcycles & scooters which they shouldn't.

And, they care little for Victorians paying higher prices for goods and services. They charge tradies and commercial vehicles tolls that would make Mad Dog Morgan sigh with pleasure.

Toll companies' reason for being is to make profit. They sell trips on their roads making money out of Australian drivers who pay for a quicker trip but often get a bumper to bumper crawl. But, the toll company won't refund drivers for a slow trip let alone pay the repairs after a nose to tail smash which their overcrowded toll roads contribute to.

Profit is what it's about. A bit goes to local shareholders but most goes overseas. None is used to keep other Victorian roads safe.

If Victorians owned the toll roads then drivers' money that goes overseas could be used to keep all Victorian road users safer. But we don't own the toll roads and our money will continue to leave our country ensuring corporate profits continue.

You can tell the system is working well in their favour every time you spot a new dollop of corporate crap like Iconoclast next to our toll roads.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne