A 28-year-old man died on the highway at the weekend after his utility collided with a truck near the Lower Tarcutta Road intersection - a stretch which has taken the lives of a further three people and injured more than 20 over the last seven years.

The figures from the NSW Centre for Road Safety contributed to the introduction of a government-funded project improving the safety along 514 kilometres of the Sturt Highway.

But the statistics have sparked a deeper push for awareness around heavy vehicles on the road, with the centre's records indicating a truck was involved in 53 per cent of crashes occurring between the Cowells Road intersection at Forest Hill and the merging point of the Sturt and Hume Highways over the five years to 2019.

While investigations into the cause of last weekend's crash are continuing, Transport for NSW deputy secretary for safety, environment and regulation Tara McCarthy said it was vital road users understood trucks' limitations.

"Heavy vehicles can't stop as quickly as some other vehicles on our roads," she said.

"Avoid merging in front of trucks, or unexpectedly stepping in front of trucks to cross the road."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Ms McCarthy said that an unloaded B-double travelling at only 40km/h can take up to 35 metres to stop.

"If the same vehicle is travelling at 60km/h, the stopping distance almost doubles to 67 metres."

While crashes can happen to anyone, be it truck or small vehicle, Ms McCarthy said every road user could take precautions to become safer on the road.

"Everyone has a part to play in staying safe on our roads, so whether you're walking, cycling, riding or driving - always be truck aware," she said.

The NSW Government's $27.5 million investment to improving the Sturt Highway's safety standards is currently assisting work to install wide centre line markings and rumble strips, clear roadside vegetation and a barrier to protect vehicles from a steep drop off near the intersection where the most recent crash occurred.

Further funding was also announced this week by the Federal Government, set to upgrade about 550 kilometres of road between Mildura and Wagga.

The Sturt Highway will receive a number of upgrades aimed at preventing road crashes and protecting against roadside hazards in a $12 million project, focusing on a high to low speed transition, separate through and parking lane with painted line reinforced with kerb blisters, and a flexible barrier on roadside.

The Newell Highway at Gullifers and Alleena, Goldfields Way at Barmedman, and Burley Griffin Way at Ariah Park will also see similar upgrades and widening of road shoulders.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the $408 million statewide road funding blitz was about economic stimulus as well as road safety.

"This investment won't just save lives, it will also provide a shot in the arm to local economies as we come back from the COVID-19 recession, with these projects expected to support many local jobs," he said.

While the boost was welcome, Wagga road safety advocate Jon Morgan said there were other priorities that should be considered first.

"The roads in Wagga itself are shocking, they're honestly like a third-world country's roads," he said.

"I know that comes under local government funding, but these stretches where the fatal crashes have happened recently along the Sturt Highway are already quite high quality roads with good visibility.

"In town, there are so many potholes and cracks, it presents a huge danger to drivers regardless of the slower speed limits and dangerous crashes are still occurring so those in charge really need to step up and do something."

Mr Morgan said he felt the road quality along major stretches like the Sturt Highway was not necessarily what caused the fatal crashes in recent months.

"It's the same old message with driving to the conditions, having a plan b when drinking and not driving fatigued," he said.

"There's so many other factors in an accident, but when you look at the state of roads in town, sometimes a big pothole is unavoidable and if you have a little front-wheel drive car that can bounce onto the other side of the road as a result and cause an enormous amount of damage.

"It's all well and good to get on top of the big picture stuff, but we need to get the basics right too."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: