Warning to avoid wildlife on road

Drivers setting out on road trips this Easter are being urged to pay special care to avoid hitting wildlife.

The warning comes after NRMA Insurance recorded a 35 per cent increase in animal strikes claims from 2022 to 2023.

According to the NRMA data, Goondiwindi, Roma and Jimboomba are the worst regions in Queensland for animal strikes, along with the Mitchell Highway at Charleville, the Flinders Highway in Charters Towers and Parkridge Road in Park Ridge.

The Queensland Police Service’s Darling Downs Superintendent Doug McDonald used part of his Easter road safety address to call on motorists to slow down.

“Animal strikes are always a problem for us out in rural areas,” he said.

“Over the years, I’ve seen fatalities as a consequence of animal strikes.

“The most important one is drive to the speed limit because you severely reduce your ability to respond to an unexpected event on the road if you’re driving over the speed limit.

“That’s why we have speed limits. So that gives you the opportunity to take evasive action if necessary.

“Also, be aware of your surroundings. That’s why you need to 100 per cent focus your attention on the road in front of you, and particularly be looking ahead on those country roads that you’re travelling on.”

The rate of animal strikes increases in the cooler months as grass starts to frost and die off, forcing wildlife closer to roads for green shoots.

“It’s more prevalent during dusk and dawn periods to have animals come out to feed, so it is a good option to minimise your travel on the roads in those periods, particularly for motorcyclists who have less protection against animals that may suddenly jump out from the side of the road,” he said.