What to do in an animal-related vehicle collision

Please note the information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any decisions based on this article.

As you drive across the Territory you have a high chance of spotting wildlife.

Although spotting wildlife can be exciting, it can also lead to dangerous accidents, damage to your vehicle and unintentionally injuring an animal. Kangaroos and wallabies are known to sit in the long grass on the side of the road and unexpectedly jump across, sometimes in front of a fast-moving vehicle.

See the advice below from the NT Road Users' Handbook on what to do if you encounter wildlife on the road.

Ways to avoid an animal-related collision:

• Take caution on the roads. Wherever possible, avoid driving at dawn, dusk or night-time. This is when nocturnal animals and birds are most active, and the lack of light makes it more difficult to spot them.
• Reduce your speed in sign-posted wildlife areas.
• Be aware of large birds and other wildlife feeding on road kill; slow down and sound the horn if necessary.
• Generally, you should stop, if safe to do so, or slow down and steer around the animal in a controlled manner.
• Never swerve to avoid animals when travelling at speed. If you swerve you are more likely to lose control of the vehicle - which is a common cause of single-vehicle rollover crashes, or you could crash into oncoming traffic. Maintain a straight and steady steering while using emergency brake procedures to slow down safely.

How you react when you see wildlife near the road can save lives, and not just the animals, so it’s important to remain vigilant and alert at all times.

Unfortunately, there may be times where we cannot avoid a collision. For help and advice on what to do, follow the general information below and contact a vet, Wildcare NT, or the local wildlife rescue service.

General advice in the event of a collision:

• make sure it is safe to stop and get out of your vehicle,
• approach any injured animal with extreme care; they could be very frightened,
• minimise noise, handling and stress,
• keep pets and children away from the wildlife,
• if safe to do so, move road kill at least 10 metres off the road to avoid further crashes,
• check dead kangaroo and possum pouches for joeys,
• contact your local wildlife rescue organisation, and
• remember, your safety comes first.

There are volunteer organisations that care for injured or orphaned animals and then release them back into the wild. They will collect the animal where possible, so if you find an injured animal, please contact a wildlife rescue near you. For more information and contact details visit the NT Government website or phone your local vet.

TIO Comprehensive Car Insurance covers accidental loss or damage to your car so you can be covered for repairs in the unfortunate event of a collision*.

*Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

Before making a decision please consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) / Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS (where applicable). These documents, together with the relevant Target Market Determination (TMD), are available on the TIO website.

Disclaimer

This article has been prepared by TIO. Information contained in this article is accurate as at 31 August 2023 and may be subject to change. In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither TIO, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.