As a volunteer for Wildcare I have attended a number of incidents where a kangaroo has been hit on the road.
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I don’t suppose for a minute that anyone intentionally wants to hit a kangaroo, so let’s ask: “why me?”
Having stood by the side of the road, during the rush hour, even 80 kilometres per hour seems quick. And it might be speed that is the problem that makes some drivers more at risk than others.
We are all different and individual reaction times and driving ability will vary. Motorists who avoid hitting kangaroos are not necessarily lucky, they might just be more vigilant, be expecting the unexpected, or driving slower, so they have time to react.
The Safe Driver Training website, suggests there is more to avoiding an accident than just hitting the brakes. Total stopping distance is made up of human perception and reaction time, plus vehicle reaction time and a vehicle’s braking capability.
Realising there is a hazard may take the brain half a second. Moving the foot from the accelerator to the brake can be as long as three quarters of a second. If you are fatigued, distracted or tired, then your reaction time can blow out to three or four seconds. In four seconds at 100 km/h a car travels 110 metres before the brakes are applied.
Once the brakes are applied there will be another set of factors that determine stopping distance, such as the car’s type of braking system, weight, tyre tread and pressures and the state of the road.
Modern cars can stop quickly, but it could still take 40 metres.
With all these variables, it is not easy to be specific. The Safe Driver Training website suggests a best-case scenario however. At 80 km/h, it will take perhaps 60 metres to stop. But if your reaction time is longer, it could be a much greater stopping distance.
The point is that we should drive slower in wildlife-rich areas, be more vigilant, and expect the unexpected, particularly at dawn, dusk and during the night. It doesn’t matter if there is a string of traffic sitting behind, pushing us to speed: it is your safety that’s important.
- If you get caught out, stop and check the animal, then contact Wildcare on 6299 1966