You might know the road like the back of your hand, but you don’t know when an animal might suddenly appear in front of your car.

Livestock collisions can be fatal for drivers, passengers and animals. 

What can you do?

Stay alert and watch out for animals when driving, especially dusk till dawn, when the risk of hitting livestock is the highest.

• Drive during daylight hours where possible
• Drive to the conditions and reduce your speed if you see any animals
• Try to avoid swerving, and be prepared to stop suddenly
• Follow animal warning signs

What are we doing about it?

The ‘Animal Hazard Mitigation Program’ was established in 2013 to target sections of the road network with a high animal collision risk.

Since then, a number of strategies have been developed to improve safety and awareness, including:

• Installing grids on road reserve fence lines
• Moving watering points further back from the road-side
• Installing one-way cattle gates
• Improving warning signs and fencing standards
• Assisting with funding for new and replacement fencing at “hot spot” areas

In 2018, we joined forces with a number of organisations to form the ‘Pastoral Animal Hazard Advisory Group’, to continue this important work.

Representatives include members from:

• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development;
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions;
• RAC;
• Road Safety Commission;
• Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage;
• Pastoral Lands Board;
• Pastoralists and Graziers Association WA;
• Western Australia Local Government Association; and
• Western Australian Police Force.

Partnering with Pastoralists

Main Roads works in partnership with pastoralists to improve road safety by reducing the risk of pastoral animal-related crashes. Main Roads identifies sections of the road network where a high frequency of pastoral animal crashes occur (hotspot areas), encouraging the adjacent Pastoral leaseholders to enter into Fencing Agreements with Main Roads. These agreements support the construction of new boundary fencing between the road and the pastoral lease.

• Under these agreements, Main Roads WA typically covers 50% of the capital costs for fencing in hotspot areas.
• Pastoralists are responsible for ongoing maintenance of the fencing once constructed.

Bi annually Main Roads writes to pastoralists in hotspot areas reminding them of their responsibilities under the Road Traffic Code 2000 and outlining the opportunity to participate in fencing agreements. Pastoralists with existing fencing agreements are also reminded to assess their fencing and undertake any necessary repairs.

'Give Animals a Brake' education campaign 

Launched in November 2020, our education campaign is designed to inform road users - including local residents, visitors, tourists and mine site workers - of the associated risks of animal crashes.

Since then, we’ve had radio adverts, billboards, service station pump screens, social media posts and retail panels in market each year across the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid-West Gascoyne and Goldfields Esperance regions.

          

Campaign materials

Download our 'Give Animals a 'Brake' campaign materials to share the message in your community: 

• DL Flyer - Give animals a brake - PDF (432 KB)
• Poster - Give animals a brake - PDF  (494 KB)
• Radio Ad & Service Station Screens - Give animals a brake - ZIP (7.3MB)
• The Physics of Speed - Know the risk! Test your reaction time on the road using the Road Safety Commission's Physics ofSpeed.

Are we making a difference?

Since the ‘Animal Hazard Mitigation Program’ started, we have seen a 54 per cent reduction in the number of cattle related crashes in pastoral regions, as well as a drop in the severity of those collisions that do occur.

Funds are available to continue the program, with an expectation of additional fencing and other mitigation measures to be implemented at known hot-spots.

We will also continue to work with pastoralists and educate drivers in an effort to get everyone to their destination safely.

Visit our regional and long distance driving page to learn more about driving in regional WA.