Bernadette Thomas was stopped on Wine Country Drive waiting to turn right into Fleming Street at about 9am last Wednesday morning when another car collided with the back of her vehicle.

Ms Thomas’s car then spun on to the wrong side of the road, but she managed to move it out of harm’s way before any other vehicles were impacted.

Paramedics were called and assessed a number of patients, one of whom was transported to Cessnock Hospital.

The incident has highlighted the need for improved safety on the intersection, with Ms Thomas saying it is the third incident she has seen there since November last year.

Ms Thomas is a counsellor at Family Medical Practice on Fleming Street and said the intersection is certainly an ongoing issue.

“It’s not a remote thing [this accident], it happens regularly,” she said.

“This is a busy road.”

Ms Thomas was uninjured but said her car will certainly be written off, which she said is a huge inconvenience as she lives at Wollombi.

Family Medical Practice manager Sue Redmayne said she has seen and heard of many near misses since the practice moved to Nulkaba in April 2013.

She said with two schools in close proximity, buses using the road to get to Maitland, and Simply D’Vine, Potters Brewery and the practice all located there, it is a very busy intersection.

Ms Redmayne said people do not slow down on the 70km/h stretch when going around a stationary vehicle, causing further danger.

She said they have many elderly patients, and some of them do not attend the practice anymore due to the intersection being unsafe.

Ms Thomas and Ms Redmayne would like to see something implemented such as a turning lane or small roundabout to improve safety.

“There needs to be some indication that this is a dangerous intersection,” Ms Thomas said.

Cessnock City Council is about to commence an investigation of the site with an intersection analysis.

Council’s director of works and infrastructure Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr said the analysis will count the number of vehicles turning in and out of both the Fleming and Boreas Street sides of the four-way intersection, as well as the volume of through traffic on Wine Country Drive.  

“This will provide information that enables evidenced based decisions about future upgrades or additional safety features that may be need at the intersection,” he said.

“It will also inform what priority work at this site should have over other intersections in the local government area.”

Wine Country Drive forms part of State Route B82 so any future council plans will have to be agreed with Roads and Maritime Services.  

RMS and council are currently working on other plans for drainage and road surface improvements on Wine Country Drive south of Fleming Street, with the aim to improve road conditions and reduce maintenance costs.