Car insurance review reveals Canberra as Australia’s animal collision hotspot

Could politicians be taking out our native wildlife at higher rates than anyone else in the country? It’s certainly a possibility, as a nationwide analysis of car insurance claims by AAMI found Canberra to be Australia’s number one animal collision hotspot.

While the analysis of 20,000 accident insurance claims in 2016 revealed that the nation’s capital holds the unfortunate title for most animal collisions, regional areas such as Heathcote in Victoria and Cooma in New South Wales dominated AAMI’s list of top ten worst hotspots.

“It’s no surprise these areas experience the highest number of animal collisions, given their regional location and proximity to bushland with large wildlife populations,” said AAMI Spokesperson Ashleigh Paterson.

The analysis by AAMI found that collisions between motorists and animals were most frequent in the cooler months of the year, with poorer light and adverse weather creating more difficult conditions for drivers.  

Shorter days in the winter months also meant drivers and animals shared the roads more often in peak driving (and animal crossing) periods such as dawn and dusk, with Paterson stating the importance for extra caution during these times.  

“Drivers need to be extra vigilant on the roads during this time of year especially in areas which are renowned for wildlife sightings,” she said.

“Wildlife is unpredictable and can appear out of nowhere so it’s vital to be extra cautious, particularly in areas with high volumes of wildlife.”

Unfortunately for our national animal, kangaroos were by far the most commonly hit - making up 80% of the animal insurance claims AAMI received. Wombats and wallabies were also some of the more unlucky native species which were regularly hit, while cattle also featured highly.

Aside from keeping an eye out for furry friends on the road, Aussie drivers should make sure that they’re covered with comprehensive car insurance in case something does happen. Head over to the Mozo car insurance comparison hub to compare the best deals on the market.