❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on kangaroo-related traffic accidents in rural areas and the effectiveness of current road safety measures. The response indicates data limitations and emphasizes situational factors in avoiding collisions, highlighting existing warning systems.
AnsweredQoN 2859Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Last year, how many fatal and serious injury traffic accidents in rural Western Australia were caused by drivers hitting or trying to avoid hitting kangaroos?
(2) For these accidents, what proportion of the fatalities and serious injuries were caused by the impact with the kangaroo itself, compared with fatalities and serious injuries caused by the consequences of trying to avoid hitting the kangaroos such as colliding with trees on the road verge, rolling over after leaving the bitumen road surface and hitting the gravel?
(3) Does the evidence show that it is safer to collide with a kangaroo rather than swerving to avoid the animal?
(4) If yes, what effort is being made by the Office of Road Safety to educate drivers that it is much safer to collide with a kangaroo rather than taking evasive action only to then collide with another vehicle, hit an object on the road verge, or lose control over the vehicle as a result of two or more of its wheels being on gravel?
(2) For these accidents, what proportion of the fatalities and serious injuries were caused by the impact with the kangaroo itself, compared with fatalities and serious injuries caused by the consequences of trying to avoid hitting the kangaroos such as colliding with trees on the road verge, rolling over after leaving the bitumen road surface and hitting the gravel?
(3) Does the evidence show that it is safer to collide with a kangaroo rather than swerving to avoid the animal?
(4) If yes, what effort is being made by the Office of Road Safety to educate drivers that it is much safer to collide with a kangaroo rather than taking evasive action only to then collide with another vehicle, hit an object on the road verge, or lose control over the vehicle as a result of two or more of its wheels being on gravel?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2004
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
23 days
(2) The Office of Road Safety advise it is not possible to differentiate between these types of crashes. (3) The Office of Road Safety advise the safest action to be taken by a driver is dependent on the individual circumstances and factors such as size of the animal, type and size of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, time of day, road environment including road surface, roadside hazards and volume of traffic on the road. Vehicle travelling speed is a key factor. As speed increases road users are less able to detect kangaroos as a potential hazard, stopping distances increase and emergency avoidance manoeuvres become increasingly difficult and if impact occurs the severity of crash outcomes is greater. (4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
(3) The Office of Road Safety advise the safest action to be taken by a driver is dependent on the individual circumstances and factors such as size of the animal, type and size of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, time of day, road environment including road surface, roadside hazards and volume of traffic on the road. Vehicle travelling speed is a key factor. As speed increases road users are less able to detect kangaroos as a potential hazard, stopping distances increase and emergency avoidance manoeuvres become increasingly difficult and if impact occurs the severity of crash outcomes is greater. (4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
Vehicle travelling speed is a key factor. As speed increases road users are less able to detect kangaroos as a potential hazard, stopping distances increase and emergency avoidance manoeuvres become increasingly difficult and if impact occurs the severity of crash outcomes is greater. (4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
(4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
(3) The Office of Road Safety advise the safest action to be taken by a driver is dependent on the individual circumstances and factors such as size of the animal, type and size of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, time of day, road environment including road surface, roadside hazards and volume of traffic on the road. Vehicle travelling speed is a key factor. As speed increases road users are less able to detect kangaroos as a potential hazard, stopping distances increase and emergency avoidance manoeuvres become increasingly difficult and if impact occurs the severity of crash outcomes is greater. (4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
Vehicle travelling speed is a key factor. As speed increases road users are less able to detect kangaroos as a potential hazard, stopping distances increase and emergency avoidance manoeuvres become increasingly difficult and if impact occurs the severity of crash outcomes is greater. (4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
(4) The Office of Road Safety advise that Main Roads WA provides warning signs in areas where kangaroos are more likely to be found. Furthermore, the Main Roads WA website provides specific information for drivers on minimising the risk of hitting a kangaroo.
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