Push for New Road Rule After 10 Million Tragic Incidents

Drivers could soon be asked to perform one simple act on Aussie roads in a bid to save lives as millions of animals die every year from collisions.

The Victorian government is being urged to consider a new law that requires drivers to stop and seek assistance for wildlife that has been struck by a vehicle, after the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee (LCEIC) carried out an inquiry into roadkill in the state.

The state's current laws obliging motorists to stop and report animal injuries only apply to pets or livestock – animals that are legally considered to be someone's property.

After a three-day hearing and 469 submissions were heard from councils, police, wildlife organisations, research scientists and farmers, the LCEIC found that if drivers choose to stop and assist, it would work wonders for reducing the number of wildlife killed on roads.

"The injuring and killing of native animals as a result of collisions with motor vehicles, or wildlife road strike, is a crisis in Victoria that causes enormous suffering for the animals but also substantially increases the risk of death and injury to motorists," Committee Chair Georgie Purcell said.

The move would be facilitated by a statewide phone line that drivers could call from anywhere in the state to alert wildlife rescuers and get them to the scene as quickly as possible.

Another recommendation, of which there were 18, suggested drivers could also opt in to paying a small fee in their yearly vehicle registration to go towards wildlife rescue and shelters in the state to mitigate some of the costs for caring for animals struck by cars.

"Animal rescuers give up their time, resources, and, in many cases, their psychological and emotional well-being, to respond to roadstrike events day and night,” Purcell said.

Over 10 million animals killed every year on Australian roads

Yahoo News has spoken with many wildlife rescuers, and the resounding message they all echo is how dire the road death rate is. An estimated 10 million animals die on Australian roads every year, according to The University of Melbourne, and the rate is showing no sign of slowing.

Having a clear instruction on what is expected of drivers if they hit an animal would help wildlife rescuers get to injured animals sooner, with many left to suffer for hours and even days before help arrives. Sometimes, it doesn't.

In New South Wales, drivers are required by law to stop and take "reasonable steps" to help an animal struck by their car. If not, they could face fines or even jail time. However, there is a glaring exception to the rule that has caused frustration by wildlife advocates, with Purcell's colleague Emma Hurst saying it makes "no sense" to leave birds out of the law. Four small words — "other than a bird" — are included in the state's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Across other states and territories, drivers are urged to stop and assist if it is safe to do so. However, it is seldom enforced by authorities.