Perenjori Police shared this photo after a driver collided with a kangaroo. PIC: Perenjori police / West Australian
A car towing a caravan has rolled after hitting a kangaroo on a country road in WA’s Wildflower country.
Police say there were no injuries in the incident which happened near Perenjori, about 350 kilometres north of Perth,
Both the car and caravan rolled after the roo jumped onto the road one night last week.
The dangers that wandering wildlife can pose to motorists has been further emphasised by two separate incidents in the west of NSW in which two men were seriously injured in collisions with cattle
In the first incident, a motorcyclist was airlifted to Tamworth Base Hospital after colliding with livestock near Coonabarabran. In the second incident, a man was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital with head and internal injuries after his car he collided with several cows which had allegedly strayed onto Thunderbolts Way, about 30 kilometres north-west of Armidale, when
In Western Australia, the RAC have just released figures which point to a rise in animal collisions over the past two months.
RAC claims manager Glen Walker told the West Australian that 727 animal collision claims were lodged in March and April — a 36% increase on the five-year average for the same period. More than 90% of claims involved kangaroos.
Mr Walker urged drivers to be alert to the presence of wildlife.
“Hitting an animal is not only distressing and potentially costly, it is also extremely dangerous, so we’re urging motorists to be extra vigilant, especially as we head into winter,” he said. “Winter is a particularly risky time for animal collisions as motorists are out on the roads in darker conditions for longer, and we typically see a spike in incidents as daylight hours reduce.”
Mr Walker told the West Australian that most incidents occurred during dawn and dusk and suggested motorists avoid driving at night on country roads where possible.
“If you do need to drive during darker hours, reduce your speed, use your high-beams and pay attention to reflecting eyes in the distance,” he said.
If an animal is on the road, Mr Walker said drivers should slow down and resist the urge to swerve because this can endanger those in the car.
Kangaroos, wallabies, pigs, goats, cattle and a horse. Ive hit them all on thousands of miles of remote and outback driving.
Ive braked moderately but NEVER swerved to miss.
Its them or me and a dent in the front or side can be easily repaired while I sit in a pub enjoying a coldie instead of a write off n me in hospital.
Stay safe n never swerve. Cheers.
I totally agree with you.
Yep you are right I try to stay off the roads at dawn and dusk, but never turn away it will end bad, try to not drive fast at the time of day they are moving about and have very good lights for night driving.
Totally agree, even the slightest swerve can be very dangerous when travelling at 100k/h. As learnt from personal experience recently, no harm done just a fright!
Do not travel at night. That’s a given.
The dumbest animal on the road is another human.
Night by far is best time to travel. There is far less traffic so less chance of an accident with another drunk/speeding/inattentive driver
With a set of bright led driving lights and travelling at 90 or less night driving is fine.
Done many many thousands of km at night early morning
Sure you see a couple of animals but surprisingly few considering
I also am a night driver , (old truckie) . But I do not advise it for anyone else who is not experienced . Once in a truck I came across a heard of cattle on “The Barkly” no time to stop . Had heard that turning off headlights in an emergency lick that , could scatter the cattle , as they are blinded by the lights . I worked ! amazingly . And again I don’t advise it for the inexperienced .
Everyone with common sense jnows roos jumo towards headlights. Unless you are a truckie, you don’t drive, at night, in the Outback.
Mad to be out on that road @ night
when your lights shine on an animal, namely kangaroos it will form their own shaddow behind them which scares them to jump straight towards the light sorce. the only answer is — DONT DRIVE AT NIGHT !!!!!!
Sometimes it is necessary to drive at night (an illness at home). Never, ever try to avoid animals. It is much safer to hit them straight on. I have had friends killed in trying to avoid animals.
Thats why folk who live in the outback have 5 post bars and two post side bars, they mow down the animal, not swerve.
Lived in the Snowy Mountains of NSW for 15 years , in winter half the accidents were from losing control in snow/black ice, the rest were speeding, and animals. Never swerve or stamp hard on the brakes as you will come out second best. Some of the old fellers swore blind that if you hit a roo hit it while it’s feet are on the ground. As for wombats lay on the horn and pump the brakes they get out of the way very quick or completely wreck a car.
Lew i live at Berridale and agree 100% on your comments, i hit the roos head on and never swerve and the biggest danger is the ski season
Hey Lew, just curious why one can’t jump on the brakes hard?
Strange no-one has mentioned emu’s, they are almost as roo’s
If I HAVE to travel at nighttime, I sit behind a large truck and stay there, even if he drives a bit slower.
Hey John I gave this idea a miss after travelling behind a truck that hit a mob of kangaroo’s. Yuk!
I also travelled a lot at night in my job years ago and found that cattle sleep on the bitumen roads at night because of the suns residual heat left from the day before.
We will see what the future holds for the Masses of Newbies on the road.
Who have never towed a 6 x 4 trailer .
They now have a 4×4 and a Van of a type .
Inexperience unforcedly will show.
I hope not seriously
Keep Safe..
I hit a roo once that jumped out in front of me around dusk while towing on my way to Leyburn in QLD. I knew not to brake or swerve just had to go straight. It was him or me. I ended up needing a whole new quarter panel, front bumper and headlights and a longer than intended stay as the car got fixed in Toowoomba, but it was all covered under insurance and I never drive at “Roo o’clock” anymore.
I also came across a cow standing in the middle of the road twice: once coming down the hill from Maleny and once driving from Maidenwell on the windy back roads in the middle of the day. Luckily I was driving slow enough on the tight corners in those two places to have plenty of time to gently slow to a stop, pull over and chase the cows off the road! My driving angels look after me!
I travel to work every day through 46 Kilometres of national park ,there is always roos wombats deer the best thing I have is a good set of spot lights with plenty of range. And always drive with caution watching at least 500 metres ahead
If you have to travel at night just follow truckie keep in touch channel 40,
Was told that years ago.
Still say best not to drive at night,
Travelling in the day time won’t save you from all accidents with animals! We were driving near Queanbeyan doing 70 km/h on an 80 road in the middle of the day in bright sunshine, when a kangaroo jumped out in front of us, out of a culvert. We had no time to react and hit the roo on the bonnet. We had damage to the radiator, bonnet and headlight, and the kangaroo was severely injured. Even if we had been driving at 40 km/h we still would have hit it.
You miss the country side by driving at night.
Safe following truckies – hum?
I was following a truckie in outback Qld years ago and he ran into a herd of cattle at night which showered my ford with large bits and pieces and shattered the front of my car. Not to mention the smell! I said; “do not mention the smell!
We stayed out late at Mutawinji NP to see the sunset and so was dark when we drove back to Broken Hill about a month ago. It resulted in us having to drive at between 60 -80 km to be able to see the eyes and kangaroos etc coming to the edge of the road for green grass and water in the pools. i
It took us 1.5 hours to get back instead of under an hour, but no dents no skids and no scares.