How Many Kangaroos Are Hit on Australian Roads Each Year?

Australia is home to an estimated 50 million kangaroos, roughly twice the human population. While these iconic marsupials are a national symbol, they're also one of the biggest road hazards for Australian drivers.

The Numbers

According to data from state transport authorities and insurance providers:

- Over 16,000 kangaroo-related vehicle collisions are reported each year across Australia.

- The actual number is likely much higher, as many incidents go unreported.

- Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia consistently record the highest numbers.

- Insurance claims related to animal strikes cost Australian drivers an estimated $75 million annually.

Why Is the Problem Getting Worse?

Several factors are contributing to increasing wildlife-vehicle collisions:

Urban expansion is pushing development further into kangaroo habitats, creating more overlap between roads and wildlife corridors. As new suburbs and highways are built in previously rural areas, kangaroos that have used the same paths for generations suddenly find themselves crossing busy roads.

Climate change is also playing a role. Extended droughts force kangaroos to travel further in search of water and grazing land, often crossing roads they would normally avoid. After heavy rains, the sudden growth of green grass along roadsides actually attracts kangaroos to feed near traffic.

Increased traffic volumes in regional areas, particularly around dawn and dusk when kangaroos are most active, have created more opportunities for dangerous encounters.

When Are Collisions Most Likely?

The data is clear on this: roughly 80% of kangaroo-vehicle collisions occur at dawn or dusk. This is when kangaroos are most active (they're crepuscular animals) and when visibility is at its worst for drivers.

The months of May through August tend to see the highest collision rates, coinciding with shorter daylight hours and kangaroos being more active in cooler weather.

The Human Cost

Beyond the financial impact, kangaroo strikes are genuinely dangerous:

- A large red kangaroo can weigh up to 90 kilograms.

- At highway speeds, a collision with an animal of that size can cause serious vehicle damage, injuries, and even fatalities.

- Swerving to avoid kangaroos causes secondary accidents, including rollovers and head-on collisions with oncoming traffic.

What Can Be Done?

Traditional solutions like wildlife fencing are expensive and only practical along major highways. Bull bars protect the vehicle but don't prevent the collision itself. The animal still suffers.

That's why we're building RooGuard: a proactive approach that deters animals from the road before a collision can happen. Instead of reacting to the problem, we want to prevent it entirely.

Join our waitlist to be the first to know when RooGuard is available.