TRUCKIES are calling for car drivers to receive more education to help them co-exist safely on the region's roads.
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The plea comes in the wake of several tragic crashes between trucks and cars on Riverina roads in the past couple of weeks.
Steve Richardson, of Henty, is behind the wheel of a truck for up to 12 hours each day. He said truck drivers quickly learnt that they not only have to watch out for themselves, but everyone else on the road, too.
"We sit up high and see what's happening around us," he said.
Mr Richardson said speeding is the biggest problem that truck drivers are forced to deal with each day and he often witnessed drivers making poor choices at his expense.
"Drivers in smaller vehicles don't understand that truck drivers leave gaps in the road to stop safely, not to give them an opening to dart in and out," he said.
"It's gut-wrenching when someone makes a terrible decision. A car darts in front of the truck, leaving no room to brake and possibly run right over them."
Mr Richardson believes more education about truck safety is needed in order for cars and trucks to co-exist on the roads.
"No one is teaching drivers about how driving a truck works. They treat us like another vehicle on the road, but a B-double has about 68 tonnes behind it - it's not just another car," he said.
Bunny Brown has been a truck driver for five decades and said he is lucky to have had few incidents during his career.
But he has become all-too familiar with the terrible decisions people make on the roads - from using mobile phones, to overtaking with not enough time, to braking without warning, putting many truckies at the mercy of other drivers.
"It is frustrating to watch, hear and experience. Truck drivers have to make quick decisions to avoid head-on collisions. I have seen a lot in my days - it's disgusting and we cannot do much about it," he said.
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"We cannot stop quick enough to correct their mistake - and half the time it looks like our fault."
Ron Crouch Transport's managing director Geoff Crouch said crashes can change a person's life in a matter of seconds.
"It goes without saying everyone of these tragic instances is one too many. All members of the community who are using the road need to do whatever they can to get the road toll down to zero," he said.
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