Suncorp : Animal collisions jump 22% as AAMI urges drivers to stop ignoring wildlife signs

New alarming research from AAMI found more than 40 per cent of Aussie drivers don't pay attention to wildlife warning signs, and most drivers (60%) would dangerously swerve or slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with an animal, putting themselves and other drivers at risk.

The research also found one in ten Aussies don't know what they would do if they crashed into an animal. More than half (54%) of Aussie drivers have been involved in an animal collision.

Analysis of more than 21,000 AAMI animal collision claims across the country in 2023 also found:

• New South Wales is the most dangerous state for animal collisions (30%) followed by Victoria (29%) and Queensland (24%)
• Dubbo in New South Wales holds the dubious title of Australia's worst animal collision hotspot, followed by Sunbury in Victoria and Goulburn in New South Wales
• 36 per cent of animal collisions occur on rural and regional roads
• Almost 60 per cent of all animal collisions occur between May and October
• Dusk is the most dangerous time for animal collisions, with a quarter of accidents occurring from 4:30-8pm
• Saturday is the worst day of the week for wildlife related road accidents - with almost one third (31%) of incidents taking place over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
• Male drivers, and those middle aged (between 45-54, followed closely by 55-64) are most likely to find themselves in an animal collision

A full breakdown of findings are available in the downloadable media release.