Motorists are reminded to slow down and look out for animals on country roads as Transport for NSW launches its annual \u2018Animals on country roads\u2019 public education initiative between 19 May to 30 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary, Safety, Policy, Environment & Regulation, Sally Webb said driving on country roads often involves driving around livestock and wildlife that can be unpredictable and move quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to always take care, follow the road signs and expect the unexpected when driving around animals to ensure we protect both human lives and our wildlife.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne in every 41 crashes on country roads involves a vehicle hitting an animal, so it\u2019s important that drivers and riders know the best way to react when an animal approaches,\u201d said Ms Webb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 2014 to 2023, there were 1,344 crashes that involved an animal which sadly resulted in 27 people dying and 1,503 people injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This campaign is a great reminder to all motorists about the risks of driving around wildlife and to be vigilant and cautious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnimals can be more active at sunrise and sunset, when visibility is reduced. Stay alert when driving on country roads and if you see an animal when driving or riding, don\u2019t panic, apply your brakes carefully and in a controlled manner and don\u2019t swerve to avoid an animal,\u201d said Ms Webb. Motorists are reminded to slow down and look out for animals on country roads as Transport for NSW launches its annual \u2018Animals on country roads\u2019 public education initiative between 19 May to 30 June. Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary, Safety, Policy, Environment & Regulation, Sally Webb said driving on country roads often involves driving around … Continue reading “Slow down and look out for animals on country roads”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32780"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32781,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32780\/revisions\/32781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
To help reduce the risk of a crash and keep everyone safe, motorists should always do the following:
\u2022 Reduce your speed \u2013 slow down and look out for wildlife on or near the roadside
\u2022 Stay alert \u2013 Animals can be fast and unpredictable. Stay alert and expect the unexpected
\u2022 Brake safely \u2013 Apply your brakes in a careful, controlled manner. Leave space and pass with care when it\u2019s safe to do so
\u2022 Don\u2019t swerve \u2013 Take great care if you manoeuvre to avoid an animal. You may lose control of your vehicle if you swerve too harshly
\u2022 Follow animal warning signs \u2013 Take note of warning signs alerting you to the presence of animals in the area. If you see these signs, slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop if required
\u2022 Report injured wildlife \u2013 Call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or use the IFAW Wildlife rescue app<\/a> to find a suitable wildlife rescue organisation for your area.
Social media, radio and digital displays are now rolling out to remind motorists how to stay safe around animals on the roads. For more information on road safety and driving tips in animal-prone areas, visit the www.transport.nsw.gov.au\/roadsafety\/road-users\/drivers\/animals <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"