Kangaroos are responsible for the majority of animal accidents on the roads in Australia. Changing weather conditions have further increased the risk of kangaroos wandering on roads in search of fresh food.
However, you are not likely to see kangaroos on the roads throughout the day. Roos are typically the most active at dawn and dusk, which is when most of the hits happen. Avoiding kangaroo hotspots during these hours can reduce your risk of hitting a roo to an extent.
Kangaroos usually move around in groups. If you spot a kangaroo in the distance, it could be worth slowing down your vehicle as you can expect some more of these muscular marsupials in the vicinity.
In the event that a kangaroo hops in front of your car, it's advisable to brake in a straight line rather than swerving, which could lead you to hit the trees or a passer-by. Swerving the car to avoid the roo after you brake in a straight line gives you better control of the vehicle and a chance to judge the direction in which the roo will head.
Unfortunately, it may just be an unavoidable fact of driving in areas with kangaroos that this does happen. Be cautious of signage indicating animals are around and to ‘please drive slowly’, so you may have a better chance of avoiding this happening.
It’s also worth checking your insurance coverage, especially if you are planning to drive in the outbacks or rural areas to check whether or not your insurance includes animal damage. If you find your cover to be inadequate, you may want to compare insurance deals to upgrade your cover.