When a car slammed into one of Lyn Brock’s cows recently, the Bolwarra farmer knew it was time to urge drivers to take more notice of warning signs on the region’s roads.
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Ms Brock and two other people were guiding about 120 cows and calves across Flat Road one morning late last month when a car approached and hit one of the cattle, despite a clearly visible animal crossing sign being displayed.
While the cow miraculously survived and has since recovered from the incident, Ms Brock said she had seen too many close calls in the area in recent years.
She said she believed that many drivers either ignored animal crossing signs or did not understand what they meant.
“The man came flying down the road and didn’t brake until he hit the cow,” she said.
“We had all the signs in all the right places. For some reason people don’t look at the signs.”
Ms Brock said she wanted more people to understand that disobeying animal warning signs could lead to punishment for the driver.
“It’s a busy road. At peak hour it’s the worst, but you only need one car to hit a cow,” she said.
Flat Road is a popular shortcut for motorists travelling between Maitland and East Maitland and provides an alternate route to the New England Highway.
According to Roads and Maritime Services, drivers who don’t slow or stop their vehicles to avoid crashing into stock could end up with a fine.
The yellow diamond shaped signs either have the words “stock crossing” or a silhouette of a cow and a sheep on them.
“People need to be aware of the road rules,” Ms Brock said.
“It’s just like when you approach a pedestrian crossing – you’re supposed to slow down and be aware that someone could be crossing.
“If people get their [driver’s] licence, they’re supposed to know what all of the road signs mean.”