Although the shortest day of the year may have come and gone, grey nomads and other motorists are still being warned to be extra careful on country roads … with winter by far the most likely time to collide with wildlife.
Data from Queensland motoring organisation, the RACQ, shows that more than one third of animal collisions occur during the cooler months.
“Our insurance data shows over the past three years June, July and August had significantly more claims for crashes involving animals than any other period,” said spokesperson, Kirsty Clinton. “With less green grass available in winter time, animals are often seen on the roadside looking for food.”
She says motorists should avoid driving at dawn and dusk when animals are out foraging, and they should slow down in areas where animals could be present.
While dogs, wombats, emus and cattle are major hazards, South Australian motoring organisation, the RAA, says kangaroo collisions make up about 60% of claims made by motorists.
It says of the 188 crashes involving animals on South Australian roads between 2011 and 2015, some 12% of those crashes – including one fatality – occurred in June.
RAA road safety senior manager, Charles Mountain, said a total of 35 serious injuries and four deaths had occurred over the five year period.
“Almost 62% of casualty crashes involving animals occur in rural areas on roads with a speed limit of 100km/h or more, so it’s crucial that country drivers remain vigilant,” he said. “A crash is also more likely to involve injury if you hit a large animal, such as a kangaroo, compared to a small domestic animal you would find in metropolitan areas.”
Mr Mountain says that, in the event of hitting and injuring an animal, motorists were encouraged to seek help or take the appropriate steps to alleviate the animal’s pain and suffering.
“Hitting an animal is an unpleasant experience, however, we advise motorists not to brake heavily or swerve to avoid striking them,” he said. “Doing so could cause you to lose control of your car or hit an oncoming vehicle, increasing your chances of being involved in a more serious crash.”
Have done the road from Perth to Adelaide many times and never seen so many dead kangaroos on the road before so if you are thinking of driving across i suggest drive in daylight hours only.
Drive carefully coming through the Hunter Valley – when you get up around Singo, this is roo-central and (I believe) has the highest hit rate for animal collisions in NSW.