(VIC) Mandate Motorists Report Wildlife Roadstrikes

(VIC) Mandate Motorists Report Wildlife Roadstrikes.pdf

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Author: Madison Hasell, Jacinda Dixon-Rielly, Melody Su, Mehvish Mehboob, Jan Piechowski-Jozwiak & Amy Hawking | Publish date: 21/3/2026

Trigger warning: Animal Cruelty

• P: In VIC, motorists are not required to report wildlife collisions.

• S: The VIC Minister for Roads and Road Safety should amend Section 61(1)(f) of the Road Safety Act 1986 (VIC) to require motorists to report wildlife collisions to the relevant wildlife authorities. 

Problem Identification: 

Section 61(1)(f) of the Road Safety Act 1986 (VIC) requires motorists to stop, assist, and report collisions involving animals considered property, such as domestic pets or cattle. However, ‘wildlife is not considered as property in Victoria’.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Victoria (RSPCA Victoria), this means ‘there is no explicit requirement for motorists to stop and call for assistance when they hit a wild animal’. They noted that wildlife roadstrikes cause 'significant adverse animal welfare impacts’ and pose ‘a serious risk to human safety’.

Context: 

Wildlife roadstrikes refer to ‘any incident of a collision between a motor vehicle and a non-domestic or agricultural animal.’

Defend the Wild estimated that around 20,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions occur in VIC every year, which can include kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, and possums. According to Wildlife Victoria, ‘wildlife-vehicle collision cases have increased by 288% across the last 10 years, with a persistent and ongoing increasing trend across the last 5 years.’ 

RSPCA Victoria found that ‘only 19% of people self-report as “definitely” knowing what to do if they hit wildlife with their car, indicating a knowledge gap’ regarding driver responsibilities. Wildlife Victoria has noted that a ‘majority of drivers fail to report collisions’.

Arguments:

Wildlife Victoria has argued that underreporting has ‘result[ed] in injured animals being left to suffer.’ The RSPCA VIC noted in relation to recent Wildlife Victoria data that ‘incidents of wildlife roadstrike are increasing every year’. RSPCA VIC further stated that, ‘for those animals who do not die immediately, they may suffer a painful and protracted period during which they may slowly succumb to their injuries, starve, or be predated on.’ A testimony by Wildlife Victoria recounted the story of a wombat joey that ‘remained in the pouch for more than a day amidst maggots and rotting flesh before being rescued.’ They reported that the joey ‘developed respiratory and gastrointestinal illness as well as renal damage, likely due to prolonged dehydration, hypothermia, and exposure to decomposition organisms.’ Wildlife Victoria further explained that ‘inappropriate or absent treatment, especially failure to manage pain, significantly reduces the animal’s chance of survival both in the short and long term.’ 

Wildlife Victoria highlighted that wildlife-vehicle collisions can present ‘serious risks to human safety’. The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) emphasised that it ‘has the potential to cause further incidents’, and explained that an injured animal left on the road is a ‘hazard for other road users’. The Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee (LCEIC) asserted that wildlife strikes pose ‘secondary dangers to rescuers and other motorists’, such as ‘losing control of the vehicle’ and colliding with obstacles. According to the LCEIC, from 2020 to 2024, ‘Victoria Police records indicate … there were approximately “20 people killed in collisions where striking or avoiding a wild animal was identified as one of the contributing factors”’. In that same time period, they further recorded ‘921 injury collisions involving a wild animal being struck’.   

The LCEIC noted that the absence of mandatory reporting has resulted in ‘significant under‑reporting and an incomplete picture of the problem’. They stated that this hinders ‘decision‑making and investment in mitigation strategies.’ The LCEIC observed that ‘precise numbers are difficult to gauge as data is fragmented and imprecise’. For example, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council stated that despite reports of over 5,000 native animals being struck, the number ‘underrepresents the true scale of the issue, as it does not include unreported incidents or data from other sources.’ Wildlife Biologist, Samantha Fox, concluded that it ‘is very difficult to consider mitigation strategies’ for wildlife roadstrikes ‘without having data to show you where the problem roads or hotspots are.’

Advice/Solution Identification:

The LEIC, RSPCA Victoria, Wildlife Victoria, Defend the Wild and Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network (MRWN) have all called to mandate motorists to report wildlife roadstrikes. Additionally, MRWN has recommended that such reports be made ‘within two hours of an incident.’ Wildlife Victoria has noted that ‘introducing express reporting requirements in relation to wildlife collisions would help clarify driver responsibilities’. 

Precedent:

There is domestic and international precedent requiring motorists to report wildlife roadstrikes. In NSW, it is a criminal offence not to report wildlife roadstrikes. In the ACT, motorists are required to notify a relevant authority within 2 hours where they are unable to provide assistance to the injured animal. Internationally, in Germany, it is an offence not to report a collision with ‘furred game’ (such as deer or wild boar) immediately. 

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Public Support:

1. 2 Nov 2025 Wildlife Roadstrike in Victoria Inquiry (Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee) - Require motorists to report wildlife roadstrikes (when safe to do so). The Inquiry’s recommendation does not include a time limit. 

2. RSPCA Victoria  - Require motorists involved in wildlife roadstrikes to render immediate assistance. 

3. Wildlife Victoria - Expand reporting requirements that make it clear that motorists must report wildlife collisions.

4. Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network - Implement mandatory reporting within 2 hours of wildlife roadstrikes. 

5. Defend the Wild - Establish a legal duty of care to assist and report injured wildlife from roadstrikes.

This list reflects publicly stated positions and should not necessarily be taken as endorsement of this specific brief.

News Coverage:

• ABC News - “Fresh calls for wildlife crash reporting laws after women die on Hume Freeway helping kangaroo”. This article reported on renewed calls for mandatory reporting of wildlife-vehicle collisions in Victoria following a fatal incident. By: Alice Walker, Jane Nield & the Victorian Statewide Drive team | 11 September 2025 - Read the article here.

• YourLifeChoices - “Victoria considers mandatory roadside wildlife rescue rule as collision crisis deepens”. This article outlined how Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry is considering new rules to make drivers legally responsible for helping injured wildlife. By: Don Turrobia | 19 November 2025 - Read the article here.

• SBS News - “A ‘massive’ number of wildlife die on our roads. Experts say protections are falling far short”. This article discussed research showing millions of native animals are killed on Australian roads each year and highlighted that data collection remains insufficient. By: Josie Harvey | 23 November 2025 - Read the article here.

• Star Weekly - “Deadly roads for wildlife”. This article highlighted high-risk wildlife roadstrike hotspots in Sunbury, noting rising collisions and impacts on rescue volunteers and motorists. By: Star Weekly | 19 June 2025 - Read the article here.

Where to go to learn more: 

1. (2025) Submission to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee - Inquiry into Wildlife Roadstrike in Victoria | Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network - This submission called to enact mandatory wildlife collision reporting legislation (within 2 hours of an incident) to ensure authorities are alerted for timely intervention and data recording. View the submission here.

2. (2024) Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria RSPCA Victoria Submissions | RSPCA Victoria  - This submission suggested amending legislation to replicate the ACT’s Animal Welfare Act 1992, Section 10, requiring people to assist injured animals. It also highlighted the welfare impacts of unreported roadstrikes and supported stronger reporting, legislative updates, and improved resourcing to protect wildlife and support services. View the submission here.

3. (2024) Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria | Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee - This inquiry recommended requiring motorists to stop and assist wildlife they had struck, where safe to do so, including by reporting the incident. It also examined the scale, causes, and impacts of wildlife roadstrikes in Victoria, identified gaps in regulation and reporting, and made further recommendations. View the inquiry here.

4. (2024) Submission into Wildlife Roadstrike | Wildlife Victoria - This submission recommended national laws requiring drivers to report wildlife collisions and notify authorised wildlife rescue organisations. It also outlined Wildlife Victoria’s perspectives on roadstrike incidents, operational observations, and factors influencing reporting and response under existing frameworks. View the submission here.

5. (2024) Submission to the Inquiry into Wildlife Roadstrike in Victoria | Defend the Wild - This submission described organisational observations related to wildlife roadstrike incidence and noted key considerations regarding current data limitations and response arrangements. View the submission here.

6. Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) - Read the full Act here.

Human Perspective: 

Trigger Warning: Animal Cruelty 

At 8:00 pm, a young man sped along the Hume Highway and struck a wombat. The bullbar on his car absorbed the impact, leaving the vehicle unscathed. However, the wombat was left badly injured and unreported, struggling in pain on the side of the road. Later that night, Sarah didn’t see the injured wombat in time and swerved to avoid impact, losing control of her car. She sustained injuries, leaving her shaken and her car in need of serious repair. Someone who stopped to help Sarah then called Wildlife Victoria to report the wombat. A Wildlife Victoria volunteer arrived soon after, but the wombat’s injuries were catastrophic. Its jaw and teeth were shattered, and it could not be saved. Had it been reported immediately, the wombat may have survived. Instead, its prolonged suffering had to be ended through euthanasia. That night, Sarah felt a deep, lingering distress, not just from her own injuries, but from witnessing the consequences of an abandoned, suffering animal. One unreported incident had caused pain, trauma, and the potentially avoidable death of a wombat.

To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.

Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement: 

N/A

Support 

If your organisation would like to add your support to this paper or suggest amendments, please email Info@foreaustralia.com. 

Disclaimers

Please review all FORE disclaimers here.

Reference list: 

Brieger, F. (2022, February 22). What you should know about accidents involving game. Waldwissen. https://www.waldwissen.net/en/forest-ecology/forest-and-game/what-you-should-know-about-accidents-involving-game

Defend the Wild. (2025, May 30). Submission No. 304 to the Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria (redacted submission). https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/49e903/contentassets/96a9dda3d3384bbc9612d1d43d20a452/submission-documents/304.-defend-the-wild_redacted.pdf

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. (2026, January 13). Hit the brakes, not wildlife and report roadkill. Tasmanian Government. https://nre.tas.gov.au/about-the-department/news/hit-the-brakes-not-wildlife-and-report-roadkill

Harvey, J. (2025, November 23). A 'massive' number of wildlife die on our roads. Experts say protections are falling far short. SBS News. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/wildlife-road-kill-protections-falling-short/79d7h3jxe 

Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee. (2025). Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria. Parliament of Victoria. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4acff8/globalassets/tabled-paper-documents/tabled-paper-9814/lceic-60-07-wildlife-roadstrike-in-victoria.pdf

Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network. (2025, May 12). Submission to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria. https://www.macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/MRWN_Wildlife_Roadstrike_Submission_12MAY2025.pdf

Macedon Ranges Shire Council (2025, May 15). Submission to the Inquiry into Wildlife Roadstrike in Victoria. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/49bd91/contentassets/d536b5b1983a41afa31b8bbc8a027b30/submission-documents/059.-macedon-ranges-shire-council_redacted.pdf

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 No. 200 (NSW). https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1979-200#sec.14

Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. (n.d.). Animals: Reporting an accident involving an animal. https://www.racv.com.au/cars-transport/road-safety/road-rules/animals.html#Reportinganaccidentinvolvingananimal

Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic). https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-12/86-127aa234-authorised.pdf#page=439

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Victoria. (2025, May 30). Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria. https://rspcavic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RSPCA-Victorias-submission-to-the-Parliamentary-Inquiry-into-Wildlife-Roadstrike-in-Victoria.pdf

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Victoria. (2025, May 30). Clear road ahead for wildlife. https://rspcavic.org/clear-road-ahead-for-wildlife/

Star Weekly. (2025, June 19). Deadly roads for wildlife. Star Weekly. https://sunburymacedonranges.starweekly.com.au/news/deadly-roads-for-wildlife/ 

Turrobia, D. (2025, November 19). Victoria considers mandatory roadside wildlife rescue rule as collision crisis deepens. YourLifeChoices. https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/government/victoria-considers-mandatory-roadside-wildlife-rescue-rule-as-collision-crisis-deepens/ 

Wildlife Victoria. (2025, September 19). Voice in Parliament: Reducing wildlife‑vehicle collisions. Wildlife Victoria. https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/news/reducing-wildlife-road-toll

Wildlife Victoria. (n.d.). Wildlife Roadtoll Action Program. Wildlife Victoria. https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/news/reducing-wildlife-road-toll

Wildlife Victoria. (2025). Inquiry into wildlife roadstrike in Victoria: Wildlife Victoria submission. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4a5b97/contentassets/ece65963945c4d28958cecad4697df0e/193.-wildlife-victoria.pdf 

Walker, A., Nield, J., & the Victorian Statewide Drive Team. (2025, September 11). Fresh calls for wildlife crash reporting laws after women die on Hume Freeway helping kangaroo. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-11/calls-grow-for-mandatory-reporting-of-wildlife-collisions-in-vic/105754166