Who should pay for kangaroo damage?

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

I've collided with four kangaroos so far, damaging my two vehicles. Can I sue the Local Council? If you were to say it's the responsibility of the motorist to avoid kangaroos, then how can it be done? 

 

I did an experiment, which entailed driving at different slow speeds to see what the kangaroos would do. Anything over 70k/h on a back road is high risk and very likely to hit a roo that jumps out onto the road.

 

At just below 70k/h, the risk is much lower, but the risk is still there. So I kept going with the experiment and found that 60-65k/h was the fastest speed allowable to avoid hitting kangaroos altogether. 

 

I observed what the roos do a various speeds. If you're going fast in a 100k/h zone, roos jump out onto the road right in front of you and you'll hit them.

 

If you're doing around 75k/h, you have a better chance of avoiding a roo, but one could still surprise you if it's unseen and jumps out of tall grass.

 

At 60-65k/h, the roos will nearly always hesitate and stand still, or jump back into the bush from the side of the road. As funny as it sounds, roos need time to think. This slower speed gives them that time. I have not hit anymore Kangaroos since I've adapted my driving to that slower speed on back roads. Traffic whizzes past me, and they cause all the road kill, not me anymore.  

 

Wombats are also at risk, they run out in front of vehicles. Again, the slower speed is necessary.

 

A photo I took of someone else's road kill near my village ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Part of the Australian way of life. Animals and falling trees.  Nev

[octave]

57 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

I've collided with four kangaroos so far, damaging my two vehicles. Can I sue the Local Council? If you were to say it's the responsibility of the motorist to avoid kangaroos, then how can it be done? 

We lived near a country town, 100km east af Canberra, for 21 years, and we worked in Canberra.  This meant driving into Canberra 5 times a week.  The trip there was fine; however, the trip back was usually at a bad time for roos.   During this time, we hit 1 roo bad enough to damage the car and 1 wombat (at low speed).   On our way home, we would vary are speed according to the surroundings.  Travelling the same road so often, you start to get a sense of where roos are likely to hop across the road.  Likewise, the weather plays a part.  Our tactic was to slow down (even to 60kph) in those places that tended to have a high body count.  There were occasions where we had to take evasive action; however, this does require sound judgement, better to hit a roo than a tree or a car coming the other way. This particular highway was treacherous enough even without roos. This highway was noted for serious accidents and head-on collisions (Kings Highway)

 

Why should the council (rate payers) be liable?    I would hate to think how much the rates would need to increase to cover the numerous incidents.

1 hour ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

At 60-65k/h, the roos will nearly always hesitate and stand still, or jump back into the bush from the side of the road. As funny as it sounds, roos need time to think. This slower speed gives them that time. I have not hit anymore Kangaroos since I've adapted my driving to that slower speed on back roads. Traffic whizzes past me, and they cause all the road kill, not me anymore.  

For once, GON I  agree (with this statement at least)   It is really up to the driver to drive to the conditions. Another hazard we experienced was heavy fog but we were often amazed at how some cars would come up close behind and then overtake and accelerate off into the unknown.

 

I use a navigation app on my phone where you and other road users can report road hazards (with voice), then when other drivers approach the hazard, you get a voice warning. The most common warning (around here) is "vehicle on the shoulder of the road". You get about 500metres' notice, and as you pass, it asks if the hazard is still there.    It does report animal hazards, including "dead animal on the road".   It does depend on how many users of this app are in the area; it does tell you that, and it is often quite a large number.

 

Other creatures I have had to avoid are cattle, horses,  deer, and would you believe a totally naked man running down the middle of the road at St Kilda

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

The roos need to be culled, there's just too many of them around where I live. It's not uncommon to see a dozen dead roos on the way to town. There's Council signs beside the roads, but that's it, they do nothing else to stop the carnage.

[facthunter]

They are really dangerous. If they come through the window, you could DIE.  Nev

[octave]

3 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

The roos need to be culled, there's just too many of them around where I live. It's not uncommon to see a dozen dead roos on the way to town. There's Council signs beside the roads, but that's it, they do nothing else to stop the carnage.

Whilst science-based culling is fine, I think it won't totally eliminate the hazard. A lower population will improve the odds, but you only have to hit one to have a bad day.  I saw a dead kangaroo on the Tullamarine freeway about 4 km from Melbourne airport.  So yes, culling might help but you still have to drive as if one is going to hop across the road. 

 

I think driver education is also important. Many motorists think the 100k km/h speed sign is a minimum rather than a maximum IF conditions are favourable.  As I said 21 years driving quite long distances through bush and farmland and 2 incidents which were not too serious because I was not driving fast.  This can't simply be due to luck.

 

 

[facthunter]

With Roos I've actually come to a standstill and they wouldn't move. They love the greener grass along the edge of the tar road just on  sunset. Nev

[pmccarthy]

I have not hit one for twenty years although I drive on roo infested roads every day. My tactics are to always drive in the centre of the road, to limit speed to 80 at roo times morning and evening, and to know where the roo crossings are in our area. Of course, I have been lucky too.

[Siso]

driving back from Bathurst to SA one night it started to rain., all the roos came on to the road to drink the water. Pulled over and rolled the swags out.

[spacesailor]

I hit 5 roo's in one go .

Bourke to Dubbo  is 110 kph .

I was tired , so driving under 8o kph . Roo's on both sides of the highway,  then all of a sudden they jumped in front of the 4X4 .

I didn't get the chance to swerve,  the ' bullbar ' threw two to the side , two went under the car & one under the wheels .

That ' one ' under the wheel almost turned the " Jackaroo " onto it's side . 

We were lucky , all repairable. 

Insurance assessor said that area was noted for roo carnage,  and they jump into the yellow headlight patch , in front of the car  ! ,

They think it's a bit of sunshine .

spacesailor