Any grey nomad who has spent time driving in the Outback will be all too well aware of the ‘threat’ posed by wandering wildlife … and the risk, it seems, is increasing.
Earlier this year, South Australia’s RAA Insurance reported it had received more than 2,100 claims for kangaroo collisions in the previous 12 months … a 44% jump from the same period two years ago. It said this surge was probably due to a lack of rainfall bringing kangaroos towards the road in search of food.
And insurance group AAMI said its wildlife crash data collected in the 2024-25 financial year showed 23,840 claims had been made, with 18% of these accidents resulting in a total vehicle write-off.
Not surprisingly, kangaroos were the most commonly hit animals, with other frequently involved species including wallabies, wombats, deer, dogs, cows, emus, pigs, foxes, and rabbits.
Drivers in remote regions are urged to be alert for wildlife wandering onto the road. PIC: Suncorp Group
Dubbo in NSW claimed the title of Australia’s worst animal collision hotspot, followed closely by Sunbury in Victoria, and NSW’s Broken Hill.
With all levels of government determined to reduce the road toll, there has been plenty of talk in recent months about the idea of reducing rural speed limits, and even introducing a special towing licence for caravanners.
But the tricky issue of trying to reduce the number of wildlife collisions isn’t being ignored. Transport for NSW recently commissioned an independent expert to prepare a paper ‘Using technology to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions …. the Future Directions Paper’.
Two of the ideas floated in that paper are currently being tested in the state, with a spokesperson telling the GNT that the Government hoped to have more information about how they will be rolled out in the New Year.
These trials are:
• To see if lighter-coloured pavement surfaces will make it easier for drivers to see, and avoid, wildlife.
• Artificial Intelligence cameras being trained to identify common wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and wombats and linked to smart road signage so they can warn drivers of the presence of animals on the road and roadside in real time.
Meanwhile drivers are being urged to be incredibly vigilant, especially at dawn and dusk. RAA Senior Manager Safety & Infrastructure, Charles Mountain, said animals like kangaroos were unpredictable creatures that can seemingly come out of nowhere and pose a significant safety risk.
“If you do happen to encounter one on the road, brake safely and sound your horn if it’s safe to do so,” he said. “But do not swerve as that could cause a more serious crash and put yourself and other road users at even greater risk.”
Academic studies have estimated the annual roadkill in Australia at four million marsupials and six million birds, reptiles and other species.
We’ve come very close to hitting wildlife on Outback roads.
Luckily we tow our caravan at 90kph.
The reason that there are more insurance claims for hitting wildlife is that there are way more RV’s on the road these days compared to 15-20 years ago.
A lot of them in a big hurry.