Wallaby found dead on the M1

NEARLY 4,000 dead animals were found on the UK’s roads according to new statistics.

Confused.com sent out Freedom of Information Act requests to Highways England, revealing that some animals were more likely than others to died on the roads.

They showed that in 2016/17 the following animals were removed from carriageways: 1,117 deer 915 badgers 340 cats 286 dogs 61 otters 58 swans 53 owls 29 sheep Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, says: “Unfortunately, being a driver means you have to make difficult decisions when it comes to facing an animal in the road and doing what is safest for yourself and other road users.

“If swerving means putting yourself and other drivers at risk then this should be avoided.

“Some drivers might also be tempted to jump out of the car and investigate a dead animal on the road, but this can also be risky.”

The Road Traffic Act 1988 says it’s the duty of a driver to stop and report an accident if ‘damage is caused’ to an animal.

The law specifies that an animal means horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

You should also contact the owner of the animal, if possible.

Controversially the law doesn’t extend to cats, meaning that legally if you hit a cat with your car you do not have to stop.

No details about the wallaby’s death have been revealed, other than the fact it was discovered on the M1

A peacock was also found on the A174 in Yorkshire.