For all the publicity surrounding the occasional motorist collision with a camel, a horse or a cassowary, a new study released by insurer AAMI shows that these represent just a tiny fraction of the overall animal-related accidents.
It reports that, across the country, 88% of animal collisions involved a kangaroo, 6% were with wallabies, 3% were with wombats and 2% with dogs.
AAMI spokesperson Michael Mills said collisions between vehicles and animals jumped by 68% in winter, with July being the worst month of the year.
“In winter you have fewer daylight hours, that means peak-hour travel usually occurs at dawn and dusk, and animals are most active at dawn and dusk ” he said. “You also have drivers with reduced visibility and reaction times, so you have a nasty cocktail which can lead to some pretty nasty situations.”
From about 20,000 national claims last year, Queanbeyan in NSW recorded the highest number of animal-related accidents with 293, followed by Bendigo in Victoria (179), Dingo in Queensland (164) and NSW’s Singleton (162) and Goulburn (143).
Madura, about 1200km east of Perth, was the State’s hotspot for animal-related collisions, with 33 claims lodged from the isolated stretch of Eyre Highway last year.
Mr Mills said simple changes in driver behaviour – and only driving in the day – could reduce the roadkill carnage.
“The main thing is to slow down and be really observant of your surroundings, particularly if you’re driving near a national park or bushland,” he said. “If you see any roadkill on the side of the road, that’s a pretty good indication that animals frequent the area … kangaroos often move in mobs, so if you see one there’s a chance there will be more coming.”
Mr Mills said motorists should stop to check the welfare of the animal if it is safe to do so.
The insurer’s examination also found Friday was the worst day for animal-related crashes.
Wow Queanbeyan 293 and not one politician amongst them
Buggar come on you guys you can do better that that
If you include humans as animals then Canberra wins hands down! The politicians have knocked off thousands of hard working Public Servants in the past few years. No wonder the services we need are getting worse and cost so much more!
omg poor animals are dying and suffering its so sad
.. -.. -.-.