Emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the freeway at Barnawartha North about 8.30am on Monday.

A probationary driver ran off the left side of the road while travelling with her partner and hit the wire ropes.

The front end of Holden sedan was extensively damaged but the pair were uninjured.

Senior Constable Owen Clarke said the barriers had prevented a far more serious crash.

“We’re still looking into that,” he said when asked if the driver fell asleep.

“We’ve spoken to the driver and we’ll be making a few more further enquiries.

“But at this stage, it’s really just a very lucky day for her.

“Without that wire rope barrier there, she would have obviously disappeared down this embankment and we’d be looking at a very serious collision.

“Where the incident occurred on the bend, if she had have kept going in a straight line … with the layout of the terrain, it’s quite possible the car who have lost control and rolled numerous times if the wire rope barrier wasn’t there.”

Police spoke to the 21-year-old driver, who lives in Thurgoona.

The matter will need further investigation.

“We’re going to do what we can to try to verify what she said,” Senior Constable Clarke said.

“It may be as simple as a penalty notice or it may be a court appearance.”

The vehicle was towed from the scene with damage to the front passenger side.

Wire rope barriers are being installed at various locations along the Hume in a bid to improve safety. 

Police continue to be concerned by the number of drivers failing to slow to 40km/h while passing emergency vehicles.

Dozens of drivers passed the crash scene at full speed, with only a small minority slowing.

“You’ve got to slow down,” Senior Constable Clarke said.

“If there are emergency services on the side of any road with blue and red lights flashing, you’ve got to slow to a safe speed.

“It just keeps everyone safe.”