It is the first crash on the southern side of the road since VicRoads' re-marking, prompting renewed protests from residents against the changes.

A 50-year-old Woodend man, who was travelling alone, was heading north towards Macedon in his Mitsubishi Pajero about 5pm last Tuesday.

Gisborne police highway patrol officer-in-charge Geoff Neil said the driver swerved towards the left and struck the wire barrier as he tried to avoid kangaroos that jumped in front of the vehicle.

"He was unable to move to the right to avoid the kangaroos due to oncoming traffic," Sergeant Neil said.

"I am of the understanding that the driver had made the decision to swerve left because he had an oncoming vehicle to his right."

Sergeant Neil said the driver appeared to have no other option but to hit the barriers.

"If the gentleman had two lanes to travel in, he could have used the lane next to him and had no interference," he said.

"The railing will have to be replaced."

Gayle Moore, who lives between Allison Lane and McBean Avenue, said the crash occurred at the front of her property.

"I went outside to take the rubbish bins out and the traffic was all banked up; police were on the sides of the road," she said.

"It doesn't surprise me. It's upsetting to see that someone has ruined their car."

Mrs Moore said she had experienced "a few near-misses" herself while stationary in the centre lane and making a right-hand turn into her driveway.

"The first time it happened, I had a car come right up behind me. It's happening quite regularly," she said.

"I signed the petition [protesting against the lane changes], I went to the meetings; I am against these changes."

Black Forest Drive action group campaigner Neil Goodie said that after

VicRoads' reconfiguration along the southern side of the road, residents had highlighted at community meetings the risk of wildlife, black ice and bushfire threats.

But VicRoads' acting regional director Andrew Wall said the incident highlighted the benefit of the wire rope safety barriers along the roadside.

"Wire rope safety barriers help to reduce the severity of run-off-road-type crashes, and have been shown to be effective treatments for reducing the risk for these types of crashes," he said.