Winter is over and crash insurers will be hoping the times of the highest animal strike frequency, writing off one in five cars, are behind motorists.
AAMI insurance has released new data revealing the significant extent of car accidents involving wildlife on regional roads nationwide.
In NSW and Victoria, the winter months of June and July are the worst for animal strikes partly due to short daylight hours and winter road conditions.
Analysis of 23,840 claims received last financial year highlights a need for increased driver awareness on country roads, particularly between dawn and dusk as nocturnal wildlife becomes more active and visibility decreases.
One in five of these crashes with wildlife (18 per cent) resulted in a total write-off, with the average damage bill around $8,000.
Like an earlier RACV report focussing on Victoria, kangaroos are the biggest culprit and animal numbers in non-drought periods and particularly in peri-urban areas, relate directly to the frequency of the strikes.
Data also revealed Friday to be the worst day of the week for animal collisions, most likely due to increased activity on the roads as people travel for weekends with Victoria recording the highest number of animal collisions, totalling 7,851 accidents between July 1st 2024 and June 31st 2025.
AAMI Executive General Manager Motor Claims Customer Tim Buckett said the alarming stats highlight the importance for awareness on country roads.
“These figures show the serious and often costly consequences of wildlife collisions on our country roads.”
“Not only do these accidents pose a significant risk to motorists and their vehicles, but they also have a tragic impact on our native wildlife.”
“We urge all drivers to exercise extreme caution, especially when driving during dawn and dusk, and in known wildlife areas.”
The most common animals involved in collisions are Kangaroos. With wallabies, wombats, deer, dogs, cows, emus, pigs, foxes, and rabbits also cited by the leading insurer as fauna to look out for.