Victorian hotspots for kangaroo collisions
New RACV data maps Victoria’s worst kangaroo collision zonesWhile overseas drivers might need to watch for deer, moose or bears, Australians mostly need to watch out for one animal: the kangaroo.
In fact, our unofficial national animal causes more than 80 per cent of wildlife road accidents, research from insurer AAMI shows.
Other insights indicate that wildlife collisions, more broadly, are a major road safety issue: 41 per cent of Australians have hit an animal, and more than 24,000 wildlife collision claims were lodged in 2025, with the average claim exceeding $9000.
Additionally, new research from RACV found Victorian motorists collided with a kangaroo nearly 20 times a day on average last year, with RACV members lodging almost 31,000 kangaroo-related collision claims between January 2021 and June 2026, peaking in 2025 with 7232.
“One in six kangaroo-collision claims resulted in a total write-off in 2025, compared with one in nine in 2021,” RACV General Manager Insurance & Roadside, Bill Bloodworth, tells carsales.
The data also highlighted the biggest hotspots on Victorian roads.
Top 10 suburbs for kangaroo collisions lodged by RACV members between January 2021 and June 2026 were:
- Sunbury (281)
- Wallan (232)
- Heathcote (230)
- Benalla (226)
- Gisborne (209)
- Craigieburn (193)
- Bendigo (181)
- Doreen (165)
- Woodend (158)
- Castlemaine (155)
The steepest increases between 2021 and 2025 were recorded on Melbourne's fringe, with claims in Wallan more than doubling, up 112 per cent from 33 to 70; Kilmore rose 193 per cent, Mickleham 169 per cent and Gisborne 93 per cent.
While many people assume kangaroo incidents are a regional or rural issue, housing expansion in outer metropolitan suburbs also increases risk.
“As our outer suburbs grow, more cars are sharing the road with more kangaroos, and the result is more collisions, more written-off vehicles and bigger repair bills for everyday Victorians,” Bloodworth says.
“A number of fringe suburbs have been developed on former bushland or farmland previously occupied by kangaroos and other wildlife. Population growth and new housing have brought more people and vehicles into these areas, increasing the likelihood of collisions. As these areas grow, more motorists are travelling through places historically inhabited by kangaroos, placing more vehicles and animals in proximity.”
Additionally, both RACV and AAMI claims data indicate when crashes are most likely: winter. June, July and May are the top three months for AAMI claims, while RACV reports April–August. Both say low light, including evenings, overnight and early morning, is the most common time of day to collide with a kangaroo.
How to lower your risk
While nothing is foolproof, RACV recommends motorists do the following to mitigate the risk:
- Stay alert in regional areas and Melbourne’s outer suburbs where kangaroos may be present
- Be particularly cautious at dawn, dusk and night, when kangaroos are most active
- Slow down in areas with wildlife warning signs or poor visibility
- Scan both sides of the road, roadside vegetation and the tree line for movement
- Use high beams at night when safe and when there is no other traffic, remembering to dim them when required
- Do not swerve if a kangaroo moves in front of the vehicle. Brake firmly and continue in a straight line, as swerving may result in a more serious crash
What you should do if you hit a kangaroo
And if you happen to collide with a kangaroo, RACV recommends motorists:
- Pull over in a safe location
- Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights
- Check the condition of passengers
- Call 000 if anyone is injured
- If the kangaroo is injured, contact local wildlife services on (03) 8400 7300
- Do not approach the animal, as an injured or frightened kangaroo may be dangerous
- If it is safe, wait nearby to help wildlife services locate the animal
- If the animal presents a traffic hazard, contact VicRoads for a major road, the relevant council for a local road, or the toll-road operator for a toll road
Related: Your questions answered: should I speed up to avoid a kangaroo crash?
Related: Five wildlife viewing spots to visit in Australia
Related: Study: Vehicle collisions with animals on the rise
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
