Animal collisions on Aussie roads at a four-year high

With the Easter period bringing in shorter days and longer nights, drivers are being warned to watch out for a major hazard.

James Earl has hit hundreds of animals in his decade driving a delivery van.

In January, he wrote off his Mazda after a nasty crash with a kangaroo.

“I’ve definitely learnt not to swerve,” the 31 year old said.

“There’s nothing you can do about it …

“Everyone I work with has replaced a vehicle, has had to get it fixed at some point because of an animal strike.”

“It is absolutely terrible. I don’t like to say I’ve, I’ve hit a lot of animals … there is no good reaction.”

Mr Earl, from Scone, in the NSW Hunter Valley, is among a rising number of motorists making claims for animal collisions on Australian roads.

James Earl, a driver in rural Australia, who recently had his Mazda deemed a ‘total loss’ after hitting a kangaroo on the road. Picture: Supplied

A new study by NRMA Insurance found 12,800 animal collision claims were submitted in 2023, up 34 per cent on the previous year.

Most of the crashes happened in autumn and winter, when daylight hours were shorter.

In NSW, there was a 38 per cent increase in animal collisions.

In Queensland, there was a 35 per cent jump with 1025 claims being made.

South Australia recorded 609 claims – its highest number of since 2019.

There were 705 claims Western Australia in the past year.

Kangaroos accounted for 85 per cent of claims in Australia.

Victoria, which is not included in the NRMA figures, saw a 15 per cent rise in animal collisions in 2023.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, which measures data for that state, received more than 6000 claims that year.

Mr Earl was driving at the speed limit when the kangaroo appeared from thick, high grass that had not been cut in some time. Picture: Supplied

NRMA Insurance Executive Manager Natalie Major said the increased collisions figures serve as “a reminder for drivers to take caution, especially during the holiday period when people are travelling long distances on regional roads.”

“If you see an animal on the road while driving, try to slow down and don’t swerve to avoid it, as you run the risk of colliding with another car or running off the road,” she said.

To help lower the chance of colliding with animals, drivers are also encouraged to avoid driving at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active.

The top danger spots for animal collisions in every state and territory in Australia, according to collision claim data. Picture: NRMA

Meanwhile, Mr Earl suggested the height of grass on the sides of country roads could play a factor.

“One of the biggest problems with rural roads is they don’t get mowed often enough,” he said.

“So the grass gets sort of a metre tall, and [the road is] only just wide enough for two cars … even 100 metres from my house, I’ve had to avoid kangaroos, just because the grass is long and you don’t see them.”