A few weeks ago, a Courier staff member was involved in a collision with a kangaroo on a Hills road.
Both the driver and the car were unharmed and the kangaroo jumped away.
The staff member contacted a wildlife rescue organisation, but unfortunately, it’s likely the kangaroo was injured or even died.
It’s sadly a common story when driving through the Hills.
The RAA says that autumn is the most dangerous time of year for animal collisions, with dawn and dusk particularly problematic times of day.
While the vast majority of residents don’t set out to harm our native animals, these incidents do happen and it’s incredibly important that Hills drivers are ready for them.
Hills roads can be particularly dangerous, with blind corners and high speed limits adding to the challenges.
Our roads are often surrounded by bushland or scrub, which means it can be difficult to see animals on the side of the road before they are upon you.
The RAA recommends safely reducing your speed, rather than slamming on the brakes or swerving around animals, and it’s advice that should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, especially as the days become shorter.
While no one wants to see wildlife killed on our roads, following the urge to swerve or brake suddenly could have far worse impacts.
Motorists have been killed swerving to miss wildlife and drivers must ensure that their safety and the safety of other road users and pedestrians is prioritised.
This unfortunately means that at times hitting wildlife will be unavoidable.
But there are also measures you can take after a collision to look after the interest of the animal.
Many wildlife rescue groups have emergency lines that can be contacted after a collision and they’re worth calling – even if it’s clear the animal is dead.
Female kangaroos and koalas could have joeys in their pouch that could be saved, or an injured animal could be euthanised more humanely.
The dangers of driving on Hills roads are unlikely to reduce any time soon, but it’s everyone’s responsibility to remain alert and react responsibly to preserve life.
