Sunbury Victoria’s most dangerous spot for wildlife crashes

A town on the outskirts of metropolitan Melbourne has been revealed the state’s most dangerous spot for native wildlife and drivers. Readers advised, graphic content.

A town on the outskirts of metropolitan Melbourne has been crowned the state’s most dangerous spot for wildlife crashes.

Sunbury, roughly 40km from the city, claimed the undesirable title following an analysis of more than over 21,000 animal collision claims lodged nationwide to insurance giant AAMI last year.

Almost 6300 of those reports – majority of which involved male drivers in Holden Commodores – came from Victoria.

Hinterland hotspots including Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges, Wallan, Heathcote and Craigieburn rounded out the state’s top five worst spots.

Eastern kangaroos pictured in Hidden Valley, Wallan, one of the state’s top five worst spots for wildlife crashes. Picture: Grace Frost

Dubbo in New South Wales – where 6513 collisions were reported last year – was lamented as the most dangerous spot nationally, dethroning Heathcote from the year prior.

Much of the incidents occurred on Saturday evenings between 8pm and midnight, while kangaroos proved the most common type of roadkill.

Sunbury, roughly 40km northwest of Melbourne, has been dubbed the worst spot for wildlife collisions in Victoria. Picture: supplied

AAMI Motor Claims manager Leah James told the Herald Sun said most collisions – often involving wallabies, dogs, deer, pigs and cows – unfolded at either dusk or dawn.

“During Winter, days are shorter and many of us are on the road when there’s low light in the early mornings and late afternoons. This coincides with when nocturnal mammals are most active, so drivers need to be more vigilant, and on the lookout for wildlife,” she said.

Most collisions unfold at either dusk or dawn. This kangaroo was killed on the Hume Highway near Wallan. Picture: Grace Frost

Ms James said almost half of Aussie drivers weren’t paying attention to wildlife signs while a quarter of those would keep driving even if it meant hitting an animal or damaging their car.

“What people might not know is that it can be more dangerous to swerve to avoid hitting an animal than to keep driving. Swerving can mean losing control of your car, and increase the chances of colliding with a tree, pole or another vehicle, injuring yourself, passengers and potentially other drivers,” she said.

Wildlife rescuers are attempting to combat the prevalance of wildlife crashes on Victorian roads. Picture: Rescue Rehabilitate Release via Facebook

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service’s Kristie Newton said more than 350 hectares of natural habitat was lost at Dubbo last year – the national hotspot for incidents.

“Sadly, because of the increase of habitat loss and extreme weather, our wildlife are becoming more vulnerable to traffic, and collisions with vehicles are on the rise,” she said.