TRUCK drivers are in a spin over a crash at a Wagga roundabout that ground peak-hour traffic to a halt on Thursday afternoon.
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A Holden Captiva was sideswiped by a B-double truck at intersection of the Sturt and Olympic highways near Barbeques Galore at 2pm on Thursday.
The Captiva sports utility vehicle (SUV) pulled alongside the truck in the left lane as it approached the roundabout heading out of town when it was side-swiped.
Westbound traffic was forced to wait until Fire and Rescue NSW could safely clear the accident scene.
Director of North Wagga livestock transport company Dawson’s Transport Peter Dawson has pleaded with drivers not to overtake turning trucks in the left lane.
Mr Dawson said the Captiva would have been in the truck’s blind spot and reminded drivers “if you can’t see the driver in his mirror, he can’t see you”.
“The signs on the back of trucks clearly say do not pass on the left hand side when turning, but that's exactly what cars are doing,” he said.
“The turning arc of a B-double requires more than one lane.
“Cars are so fast, they can zip up the side of you while you're trying to get it in gear and get around the corner.
“They can pull up beside you in the blink of an eye and you just don’t see them, even with spotter mirrors.”
The crash renewed calls for a Wagga bypass, to separate heavy haulage using Edward Street as a thoroughfare between Brisbane and Adelaide from local traffic.
Wagga police have echoed the frustrations of truck drivers, urging drivers to hang back when trucks are turning.
Acting Inspector Phil Malligan had hoped signage warning drivers not to overtake turning trucks would be self-explanatory.
“Trucks need as much space as they can muster so they can maneuver safely without vehicles coming up on their inside or outside,” Acting Inspector Phil Malligan said.
“We recommend vehicles remain behind the rear of any trucks until that heavy vehicle has passed through the intersection or cleared the roundabout.”
Wagga police confirmed the driver of the SUV escaped without injury.
Adelaide Refrigerated, the transport company at the centre of the crash, did not return calls.