Quick Stats
- Kangaroo and wallaby collisions make up 90% of all animal collision in Australia
- Kangaroo car accidents are most likely to occur between 5pm and 10pm
- The risk of crashes are higher in winter
- There are more collisions following long periods of dry weather
While collisions with animals only account for 5% of the total causes of fatal car accidents, kangaroo and wallaby collisions make up almost 90% of those accidents. The most serious accidents are usually secondary collisions that occur after the collision with the kangaroo or as a result of drivers attempting to avoid collision with kangaroos. 42% of the fatal accidents that occurred between 2001-2005 in New South Wales in regards to animal collisions happened as a result of people swerving to avoid the animal.
In 2017 ambulances were called out to 172 vehicle crashes involving kangaroos just in New South Wales alone. Motorcyclists fare the worst in collisions with kangaroos, making up half of the fatalities that occur in kangaroo collisions.2
The following table shows the amount of crashes that occurred in each state with the latest collected data on a national level.3
Kangaroo collisions by state
NSW
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years (2001-2005) |
Hit animal 1st impact, swerve to avoid |
Fatal crash | 25 | 6423 |
| Injury crash | 2115 | |||
| Non-injury | 4283 |
VIC
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years (2001-2005) |
Hit animal | Fatal crash | 9 | 632 |
| Serious injury crash | 215 | |||
| Other injury crash | 408 |
QLD
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years (2001-2005) |
Hit animal, Animal uncontrolled on road |
Fatal crash | 16 | 3197 |
| Hospitalisation crash | 649 | |||
| Minor injury crash | 981 | |||
| Property damage crash | 1551 |
There were roughly 3.5 Kangaroo related casualties on the road per day in NSW during the period 2001-2005 — more than double that of QLD
WA
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years (2001-2005) |
Hit animal | Fatal crash | 7 | 108 |
| Hospitalisation crash | 101 |
SA
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | Hit animal | Fatal crash | 0 | 519 |
| Casualty crash | 41 | |||
| All crashes | 478 |
TAS
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Years (2006-2007) |
Animal on road | Serious casualties | 11 | 11 |
ACT
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Years (2001-2003) |
Struck animal | Fatal crash | 0 | 710 |
| Injury crash | 13 | |||
| Property damage crash | 697 |
NT
| Time Period | Reporting Categories | Casualty Type | Number of Crashes |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Years (2001-2005) |
Hit animal | Fatal crash | 4 | 36 |
| Serious injury crash | 32 |
Avoiding collisions with kangaroos while driving
- Take more care when driving in the evening time when kangaroos are more likely to be on the roads
- Where there are kangaroo signs, drive with caution
- If you see kangaroos on the side of the road, proceed with caution as they often travel together in mobs
Citations
1. https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/urban_wildlife/local_wildlife/kangaroos/kangaroos_and_vehicles
2. https://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/animals-cause-thousands-road-accidents-study
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457508001371
Disclaimer
Data on this website was sourced in July 2019 with the latest available data from July 2019. Auto & General Services Pty Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data and accepts no liability whatsoever arising from or connected in any way to the use or reliance upon this data.
