A recent study has shown that Australia’s best selling cars are involved in the growing number of wildlife strikes each year.
According to Suncorp Group’s AAMI Insurance study, the number of collisions from striking wildlife on the road has risen by 22 per cent with one in six crashes writing off the vehicle.
The Toyota LandCruiser, the HiLux, the Ford Ranger, Toyota Corolla and the Holden Commodore were amongst the top vehicles involved in wildlife strikes.
The research showed more than 40 per cent of Australian drivers ignore wildlife warning signs. With 60 per cent reacting to potential animal collisions by swerving or braking abruptly, posing a threat to themselves and others.
The survey also indicated that 10 per cent of Australians are uncertain about what to do if they hit an animal, and over half (54 per cent) have experienced an animal collision.
In the last year alone, in 16 per cent of claims, AAMI said, the car had to be written off, with the average cost of an insurance claim costing greater than $5000.
Research findings
According to AAMI, incidents involving animals have increased by 22 per cent year-on-year, with more than 40 per cent of Aussie drivers surveyed saying they don’t pay attention to wildlife warning signs.
AAMI’s Motor Claims Manager, Leah James, emphasised the importance of paying attention to warning signs while driving.
“This year, our research tells us almost half of Aussie drivers ignore wildlife warning signs – a concerning statistic as we head into winter when this is more likely to occur,” James said.
Almost 60 per cent of those polled also said they would dangerously swerve or slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with an animal, putting themselves and other drivers at risk.
“AAMI’s research found only around a quarter of Aussies would keep driving, even if it meant hitting an animal and 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,” James said.
“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.”
The research, which involved analysis of in excess of 21,000 claims made to AAMI, found more than half (54 per cent) of Aussie drivers have hit an animal with their vehicle, with the majority of these occurring on rural and regional roads.
Alongside kangaroos, the animals involved in most crashes were wallabies, wombats, deer, dogs, cows, emus, pigs, foxes and rabbits – many of which are most active at dusk, making 4:30-8:00 pm the peak time for accidents
Being Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales was unsurprisingly found to be the most dangerous state for wildlife collisions (30 per cent), followed by Victoria (29 per cent) and Queensland (24 per cent) – with the regional town of Dubbo taking the crown as the number one hotspot for incidents.
The insurance company is encouraging motorists to pay more attention to wildlife signs, as well as advising drivers to stop and check the pouch of a marsupial if hit because many joeys can survive collisions if they are tucked away in their mother’s pouch.