Drivers dread hitting an animal while travelling on our roads. 

And if you are unfortunate and do hit an animal there are some things you must do under law. 

Not only should you check on the animal's welfare but in some cases you must report what has happened to the police. 

Using advice from the Government and the RAC, this is what you need to know. 

What should I do if I hit an animal?

If you hit an animal with your car you should turn your hazards on, stop the car as soon as it’s safe to do so and switch off the engine, the RAC says.

Check yourself and any passengers for injuries and exit the car safely.

Watch the animal from a safe distance to see if it’s injured.

If you think it might be, call the RSPCA (England and Wales) on 0300 1234 999.

Is it illegal to hit an animal and drive away?

Section 170 of the Road Traffic 1988 Act requires motorists to stop and report an accident involving animals.

It can be illegal if you do not report hitting a number of animals to police. 

They are:

  • dogs
  • horses
  • cattle, eg cows
  • pigs
  • goats
  • sheep
  • donkeys and mules

You must report it to the police whether or not the animal is killed. 

The Government has explored extending this to cats too. 

What should I do if I hit a pet cat or pet dog?

The RAC says if you hit someone’s pet you’ll need to consider the owner as well as the animal.

First, check your immediate surroundings for the owner. If they’re near the scene of the accident they may be distressed, so you should try to stay calm and share your details with them.

If you hit a dog you’ll need to call the police. Unfortunately for their owners, if you hit a cat you don’t need to do so. 

If the owner is nowhere to be seen, try looking for contact details on the animal’s collar. Explain to the owner what’s happened to their pet and offer them your contact details. 

If the owner isn’t nearby or if there are no contact details on a collar, the RSPCA might be able to check the animal for a microchip to trace the owner.