A leading road safety charity is supporting calls for a change in the law regarding the responsibility of drivers if they run over a cat.
At present, the Road Traffic Act 1988 does not require drivers to report collisions with cats to the police. Other animals are covered by the legislation, however.
This follows a recent Parliamentary debate on the subject, triggered by an official online petition reaching 102,436 signatures.
‘A nation of animal lovers’
During the Westminster Hall debate, brought by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, it was noted that around 630 cats are hit by cars each day in the UK. This equates to almost 230,000 animals each year.
Transport Minister Richard Holden MP acknowledged during the debate that “Britain is a nation of animal lovers”, along with the “heartbreak caused by the loss of pets”.
Mr Holden also said that including cats in the wording of the Road Traffic Act is “something that the Government are prepared to look at”, but that new “primary legislation would be required” to do so.
However, no timeline was given for this, with greater emphasis placed upon upcoming legislation that will make it compulsory to microchip cats in England.
Drivers should ‘do the right thing’
Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “Drivers are required by law to stop and report incidents where they have hit a dog, and we have witnessed cars either drive slow and with extreme caution, or stop, when a dog has run loose into the road. However, the same level of care is rarely observed when a cat runs out – perhaps because the driver knows that, legally, they do not have to stop.
“But if a law requiring drivers to stop if they hit a cat were to be brought in, we believe it could strengthen driver vigilance and responsibility overall – meaning the benefits of the legislation will stretch far beyond the protection of cats.”
Mandy Hobbis, co-founder of Cats Matter, the feline road traffic accident group, added: “Updating this law simply boils down to minimising suffering and saving cats’ lives. Thankfully, many drivers already do the right thing and stop their vehicle to tend to a cat they have run over, regardless of the legislation being in place. However, there are also drivers who sadly need the threat of punishment to act in such circumstances.”
Which animals are covered by the Road Traffic Act?
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers the responsibility of drivers who have a collision with one of the following:
- Dogs
- Horses
- Cattle
- Pigs
- Goats
- Sheep
- Donkeys and mules
This means if drivers hit any of the above animals, they must stop and report the accident to the police.
It is also recommended to contact your insurance company and inform them of the collision.
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