Make a claim
Popular Searches

We've been helping Australians for 100 years

Learn more

Wildlife collision hotspots

With colder, darker and wetter conditions setting in, the risk of wildlife collisions on Australian roads increases. We’ve looked at our 2025 animal collisions claims data to reveal where drivers could be most at risk and tips on ways to stay safe and protect local wildlife.

Autumn and winter driving carries increased risk

In 2025, we received more than 15,000 Car Insurance claims due to animal collisions, a 21% increase from 2024, highlighting a growing risk on Australian roads. Our claims data shows these accidents typically spike during the cooler, darker months, when reduced daylight makes it harder for drivers to see animals on the road and wildlife activity increases. With the cooler seasons upon us and school holiday road trips on the horizon, we want to help you stay safer behind the wheel. That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of tips and risk-prone areas to help you plan your next journey with confidence.     

A summary of our key findings:

Based on more than 15,000 animal collision claims received by NRMA Insurance nationally in 2025.

  • Winter is the peak time for collisions: Last year, July recorded the highest number of wildlife-related car accidents nationally.

  • Rural and country roads are the most dangerous: The risk of hitting wildlife increases on regional and country roads with less lighting and an abundance of wildlife.

  • Kangaroos are the most commonly hit animal: Kangaroos account for 84% of wildlife-related car insurance claims.  

  • The Capital Region records the highest number of wildlife collisions in NSW: It accounts for around a quarter of all collisions, making it the state's highest-risk region overall but Dubbo in NSW’s Central West is the top suburb.

  • In Victoria, the Hume region leads the state for wildlife collisions driven by heavy traffic along a major Melbourne–Sydney transit corridor.

  • Queensland’s Darling Downs–Maranoa region experiences 1-in-5 wildlife collisions in the state, where long regional highways run through open plains and prime kangaroo habitat.

  • Canberra accounts for 1-in-10 animal collisions across the ACT, making it the most common area to experience a wildlife collision in the territory. 

Wildlife collision hotspots you need to know

Whether you're travelling inland, along the coast or through the suburbs, wildlife on the road is a reality across much of Australia. To help you plan ahead, we've mapped out the national hotspots where animal collisions are commonly reported based on claims we received throughout 2025: 

Wildlife collisions in NSW are strongly concentrated across inland regional corridors. The Capital Region accounts for around a quarter of all collisions, making it the state's highest-risk region overall. Goulburn, Yass, Bungendore and Bywong all feature among the top 5 most at-risk areas. Open rural landscapes, native bushland and abundant wildlife corridors create the perfect conditions for animals to cross paths with traffic. The Federal Highway near Lake George, which winds through a number of these areas, is the single most at-risk road in the state for animal collisions, something to consider if it's on your route. 

While outside the capital region, it’s Dubbo that takes the top spot as the suburb with the most animal collisions. This is likely because Australia's native wildlife is widespread, and with so much of New South Wales made up of rural and semi-rural land, the chances of encountering animals on the road are widespread.

In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Canberra accounts for 1-in-10 animal collisions across the territory, followed by Belconnen and Kambah. Belconnen's ranking is largely explained by William Hovell Drive, the most common road in the ACT for animal collisions. Keep this in mind if you’re travelling through the area.

Canberra's high rate is likely a reflection of its traffic volume. As one of the territory's busiest areas, more vehicles on the road naturally mean more opportunities for wildlife encounters. It's a good reminder that animal collisions aren't just a rural risk; they can happen in urban areas too.

Wodonga, nestled on the border of New South Wales and Victoria in the Hume region, is Victoria's most at-risk area for animal collisions, accounting for around 1-in-20 collisions in the state, based on claims received from NRMA Insurance customers visiting the state.

Mildura, in north-west Victoria, ranks second, while Benalla, Chiltern, Mansfield and Wangaratta round out the top 5, all sitting within the Hume region, which accounts for more than a third (37.6%) of all animal collisions in Victoria. As a major transit corridor connecting Melbourne to Sydney, it carries significant traffic volume year-round, including a surge of holiday road trippers during school holidays. Combined with the region's abundant native wildlife, it's an area where staying alert really does matter.

Tip: While we don’t offer Car Insurance in Victoria, drivers insured by us who travel into the state will remain covered up to the limits expressed in your policy. 

Animal collision risk is broadly spread in Queensland (QLD).  Goondiwindi and St George, both in the Darling Downs-Maranoa region, rank first and second, at 1.6% and 1.3% of all animal collisions across the state. In fact, 6 of the top 10 hot spots are in this region, making Darling-Downs Maranoa the most common spot for animal collisions.

The Darling Downs-Maranoa is one of QLD's most expansive rural regions, stretching across open plains, agricultural land and native bushland west of the Great Dividing Range. It's prime habitat for kangaroos and wallabies, and its long, straight regional highways carry steady traffic through areas where wildlife regularly cross the road, with the Newell Highway being the QLD road with the most collisions.

In South Australia (SA), Hawker and Port Augusta, both in the heart of Outback South Australia, share the top spot, each accounting for 1.7% of the state's reported animal collisions. It's no surprise given where they are located. Huge areas of dry land and lots of native wildlife mean that when cars head down these roads, there’s a higher chance of colliding with animals. 

What is surprising is that Adelaide ranks in joint third place with Coober Pedy. It's a useful reminder that animal collisions aren't purely a remote outback concern; staying alert matters in and around the city too.

In Western Australia (WA), Collie, Margaret River and Busselton are the 3 most at-risk suburbs. All located in the Bunbury region, together, they make up WA’s biggest hotspot, accounting for almost a third (31.3%) of all accidents in the state.

The Bunbury region has a landscape that supports a wide variety of native wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and emus.  Meanwhile, the Bussell Highway in Margaret River stands out as the single most common road in Western Australia for animal collisions. It’s a well-travelled route, particularly with families heading to Margaret River and the south west for holidays. Our tip? Watch out for higher traffic volumes moving through active wildlife territory, increasing collision risk.

For drivers heading to Cradle Mountain, extra vigilance is a must. The iconic national park tops the list for animal collisions in Tasmania (TAS), accounting for 3.6% of the state's reported incidents, and it's easy to understand why. Cradle Mountain is home to an extraordinary variety of native wildlife, from wombats to Tasmanian devils, who roam freely throughout the area. Cradle Mountain Road, the main route into the park, is also the single most common road in TAS for wildlife collisions. Consider slowing down and staying alert as you approach this area.

When looking at regional rates, unlike some states where one region dominates the picture, Tasmania's animal collision risk is notably spread across the island. Hobart accounts for 30.6% of collisions, closely followed by Launceston and the north east at 29.7%, with the south east contributing a further 24.3%. Native wildlife is woven into the fabric of the island, so no matter which corner you're exploring, the chance of an animal encounter on the road is never far away.

In the Northern Territory (NT), Katherine stands out as the clear hotspot for wildlife collisions, with over 1-in-10 (11.3%) of all reported incidents occurring here. The Stuart Highway, stretching through Katherine, Mataranka and Daly Waters, is the most at-risk road in the Territory, and drivers covering this iconic outback route should be particularly alert throughout.

Outback NT accounts for 78.9% of all animal collisions in the Territory, compared to 21.1% in Darwin. The vast, open stretches of the outback mean wildlife, such as kangaroos, wallabies and cattle, can appear on the road with very little warning, often across long distances where driver fatigue may also increase collision risk. If the Stuart Highway is on your itinerary, plan your drive to avoid the dawn and dusk hours where possible, and take regular breaks to help ensure a safer journey.

Wildlife species most involved in road collisions

Our claims data shows kangaroos are by far the most common animal involved in collisions in Australia. Naturally drawn to roadsides where vegetation offers shelter and food, kangaroos are most active between dusk and dawn when visibility is low. They’re also unpredictable; easily startled by passing vehicles, prompting them to jump into your path. In winter, wet and icy roads create another layer of risk by making it harder for drivers to safely brake in time.

Wallabies are the next most common animal involved in collisions, followed by wombats, deer and cattle. So no matter where your road trip takes you, always keep a look out for signs of wildlife and be prepared to slow down or stop if needed.

Tips to help avoid animal collisions

Here are some simple precautions you can take:

  • Avoid night driving where possible: If you can, avoid driving at dawn, dusk, and during the night. These are the times when animals are most active, and reduced visibility can make them harder to spot. 

  • Don’t drive while fatigued: Ensure you have a good night’s sleep before long journeys and plan regular breaks to help reduce fatigue and stay alert. Breaks should be at least 15 minutes, every 2 hours.

  • Reduce speed, but avoid swerving: If you see wildlife on the road, brake slowly and resist the temptation to swerve sharply to avoid it. Sudden swerving can reduce control, increasing the risk of swerving off-road, or colliding with another vehicle. 

  • Take note of road signs: Areas with lots of wildlife activity are often marked with a sign of the animal to look out for. When you see these signs, stay vigilant and be prepared to slow down or stop.

  • Seek assistance if wildlife is struck: If you accidentally hit an animal, stop and check its condition if it’s safe to do so. Contact your local wildlife rescue service for advice and assistance.

Nick Kirkovski NRMA Insurance Executive Manager claims comments

 “Animal encounters on Australian roads increase through autumn and winter as the days become shorter and wildlife activity peaks at dusk, dawn and night."

"Wildlife can appear on the road with little warning, which is why it’s so important for drivers to stay alert, particularly when travelling in regional areas these school holidays."

"Slowing down and staying alert can make a critical difference in keeping people and wildlife safe.”

The wildlife collisions insights shared are based on a dataset of more than 15,000 wildlife collision claims lodged by NRMA Insurance customers from January to December 2025. Please note, NRMA Insurance does not offer insurance in Victoria so claims data in this state is based on visitors from interstate.

To identify trends over time, annual comparisons were calculated using full calendar year totals from 2016 through to 2025. This allowed us to track changes in claim volumes consistently each year. 

To analyse geographic patterns, each claim location, suburb and its coordinates were mapped to its corresponding Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) region using official Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) SA4 boundaries. Suburbs were geocoded and spatially matched to SA4 regions for consistent regional analysis across Australia.

Claim records were reviewed and standardised to ensure consistent location formatting and remove incomplete or duplicate entries where necessary. Our analysis covers claims submitted across all Australian states and territories where sufficient location information was available.

To keep comparisons fair between regions of different population sizes, a Wildlife Collision Risk Index was calculated for each SA4 region. The index compares each region’s share of wildlife collision claims to its share of the population, based on the latest available ABS regional population estimates for 2023–24, aligned with SA4 geographic boundaries used in the analysis.

Regions where the share of collisions was greater than the share of population received a higher index score, indicating an elevated relative collision risk. For example, an index score of 1 represents the national average level of risk, while scores above 1 indicate a higher-than-average collision risk. Scores below 1 indicate a lower relative risk.

Because wildlife collisions frequently occur on regional highways and travel corridors, the index reflects relative collision risk associated with driving through each region. This means the risk isn’t just limited to local residents, but anyone who might drive through the area.

All content on this campaign page is intended to be general in nature and does not constitute, and is not intended to constitute, professional or insurance advice.