Dicing with death: Warning over stopping on busy Victorian roads, driving with loose loads

It looks like a simple action, but experts warn the results can be "catastrophic".

Footage shows people absentmindedly getting out of their cars on busy Melbourne roads, dicing with death because of the risk of standing so close to where traffic is hurtling past.

"These incidents are incredibly dangerous," Transurban head of network performance Andrew Eckersley said.

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"They are often metres from live traffic and completely oblivious of the danger they are in."

Drive.com.au publisher James Ward said stopping on a freeway could be lethal.

"It's possibly one of the most dangerous places in the world right now, stopping on the side of a busy freeway," Ward said.

"A large truck will actually create a suction effect, so it could fling open doors, it could pull more stuff off your load, or worst still, it could pull you into traffic."

Authorities are pleading with motorists to be careful following a spike in the dangerous behaviour.

Transurban said they have attended 429 "potentially catastrophic" events of people getting out of their vehicles beside traffic this year.

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There are also warnings about drivers securing loads they are carrying.

More than 120 debris-related incidents were recorded on the road network last month, resulting in hours of delays for drivers.

"We are seeing an increase in unsecured loads and these are causing hazards to other drivers and causing significant congestion on the roads," Eckersley said.

If you do need to pull over on a busy motorway, it's suggested you take an exit ramp and stop the car of a residential street.

If that's not an option, pull over in an emergency lane as far as you can to the left and put your hazards on.

"Stay in your car and we will be out there typically within five minutes to assist," Eckersley said.