The group was on a fact-finding tour of the Central West to meet local road users and find their major problems.

Among them was NRMA president Alan Evans and regional director Graham Blight, who believe that few roads west of the Blue Mountains get their fair share of funding.

“We need to know what the key issues are and raise safety issues,” Mr Evans said.

“Three things prevent accidents: safer drivers, safer cars and safer roads.

“We like to hear from locals what their problems are and then use NRMA resources to lobby for change.”

The NRMA represents more than two million motorists and is one of Australia’s strongest road-related lobby groups.

The Mitchell Highway and the Bells Line of Road are next on the list according to Mr Blight.

“The Mitchell Highway is a winding road and supports a hell of a lot of traffic,” he said.

“That traffic is increasing all the time, but if the Government took the fuel excise that was designed to pay for road infrastructure and maintenance you could have a good road.”

Mr Blight said the Government currently spent as little as three per cent of the money raised through the excise on roads, and it was country people who suffered and spent the most on fuel.

“Four out of nine NRMA directors live outside the city, so they know the difficulties,” Mr Blight said.

“We see the Bells Line as the next major road to be built and it is absolutely vital for the economic development of the State.”