Perenjori driver has lucky escape in rollover with crashes involving animals up by a third

A driver has been lucky to walk away without a scratch after hitting a kangaroo on a country road near Perenjori.

Perenjori police posted an image of the car and its caravan which had rolled on to its side after the roo jumped onto the road one night last week.

The news coincided with the release of RAC figures which point to a rise in animal collisions over the past two months.

RAC claims manager Glen Walker said 727 animal collision claims were lodged in March and April — a 36 per cent increase on the five-year average for the same period. More than 90 per cent of claims involved kangaroos.

Mr Walker said it was encouraging to see West Australians explore their State, but urged drivers to be alert to the presence of wildlife.

“Hitting an animal is not only distressing and potentially costly, it is also extremely dangerous, so we’re urging motorists to be extra vigilant, especially as we head into winter,” he said.

“Winter is a particularly risky time for animal collisions as motorists are out on the roads in darker conditions for longer, and we typically see a spike in incidents as daylight hours reduce.”

Mr Walker said most incidents occurred during dawn and dusk and suggested motorists avoid driving at night on country roads where possible.

“If you do need to drive during darker hours, reduce your speed, use your high-beams and pay attention to reflecting eyes in the distance,” he said.

If an animal is on the road, Mr Walker said drivers should slow down and resist the urge to swerve because this can endanger those in the car.