New research from AAMI has found that one in 10 Australians do not know what to do after colliding with an animal.
The concerning statistic has called for more education around driving and wildlife protection, particularly as Australians navigate the colder and darker months – a time when wildlife activity is particularly high.
With one in two Australians likely to be involved in an animal collision, it’s important to know what to do in the event you, or someone you know, hits an animal.
Before you drive, pack a rescue kit in your car. Alongside a first aid kit for yourself, the kit should contain a simple cardboard box, towel, round-tipped scissors, and gloves.
To prevent colliding with an animal, AAMI recommends slowing down in high-risk areas which are often identified by wildlife warning signs.
Slowing down will not only decrease your stopping distance – meaning you are less likely to hit the animal should you break suddenly – but it will also minimise impact and damage to your car. With new data from AAMI showing that the average cost of an insurance claim is more than $5,000, and that almost one in six accidents result in the car being completely written off, slowing down can also minimise the impact to your bank account.
If an animal enters your lane, AAMI Motor Claims Manager Leah James stated it was important to break rather than to swerve.
“What people might not know is that it can be more dangerous to swerve to avoid hitting an animal,” she 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.”
If you do hit an animal, pull over into a safe area and turn your hazard lights on. If safe to do so, approach the animal quietly and calmly to inspect.
If the animal is alive and injured, cover their head with a towel to calm them down, and call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 for help. Ensure you are well covered to prevent the animal biting or scratching you, which can lead to infections.
If the animal has been killed, check the pouch for babies, who are likely to survive a collision even if their mother hasn’t.
Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service’s (WIRES) Kristie Newton stated many calls for help were in relation to orphaned animals.
“Last year WIRES received more than 180,000 calls to our rescue line and assisted more than 130,000 native animals,” she said.
“A large portion of the wildlife in our care have come to us due to a vehicle collision, either being struck themselves or left orphaned after their mother was killed.”
While it may seem intuitive to remove the live joey from the pouch, it is best to transport the whole body of the dead mother with the joey inside. If this is not possible, use round-tipped scissors to cut the teat as close to the mother’s body as you can, and remove the joey from the pouch with the end still in its mouth. Removing the joey from the teat can cause irreparable damage to the joey’s mouth, so exercise with caution.
Ms Newton stated it was important to be prepared before travelling to protect wildlife.
“It is important for drivers to be prepared when travelling, especially in regional and rural areas or in areas of large-scale development. By taking note of the [above] steps, you can protect both yourself and our native animals,” she said.
