A series of recent Hong Kong road accidents involving cats, dogs and wild boars has caused injuries to drivers and deaths to animals, sparking questions about public awareness of safety hazards while driving.
The Post details the legal responsibilities of drivers, insurance issues and how to avoid animals on the road.
1. What animals have been hit?
Not just wild boars have been involved in accidents in the New Territories and Southern district in the past few weeks, with pets such as cats and dogs also finding their way onto the roads.
A minibus struck two dogs on Chai Kek Road in Tai Po in July, killing one of the canines. The other ran away.
In June, on Renfrew Road near Baptist University, a tabby cat was believed to have been hit by a car while it was crossing the road. Two cars reportedly ran over the cat later, but neither stopped.
A taxi hit and killed wild boar on Saturday last week on a road in Aberdeen.
Last week, four boars were crossing the Tolo Highway in Tai Po when they were hit by a motorcycle and a bus near the Sha Tin Racecourse. Two of the boars died.
2. What are the legal duties of drivers?
Since the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 took effect in November 2021, drivers must stop their vehicles promptly in the event of an accident involving a cat or dog.
This is in addition to other animals such as horses, cattle, mules, sheep, pigs and goats listed in the previous version of the law.
If a driver is involved in a traffic accident that causes harm to an animal not in the vehicle, they must follow the requirements outlined in the ordinance.
The driver is expected to provide their details to police for investigation and further action. The force will initiate legal proceedings against individuals if enough evidence is available.
A driver who fails to stop after such an accident faces a fine of HK$10,000 and up to 12 months of imprisonment. Similarly, a driver who does not provide details and report to police within 24 hours faces a fine of HK$25,000 and a six-month prison term.
As of January 31 last year, following the implementation of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, the force has received 219 reports of vehicles striking animals.
Among them, 54 cases involved incidents where animals were hit without being reported to police. Prosecutions were initiated in connection with five of the cases.
3. What about insurance?
Paul Law Siu-hung, chairman of the International Professional Insurance Consulting Association, reminded drivers that they should stop and report to police whenever they hit a dog or cat, which are likely to belong to other residents.
Motorists should do the same in cases where wild animals such as boars have been hit, so that law enforcement can act as third-party witnesses as required by the terms of insurance companies.
Law said drivers could potentially hold road authorities responsible for not properly safeguarding the highways and allowing animals to enter when an accident resulted in damage to vehicles or injuries to drivers or passengers.
But he said he was sceptical about the chance of success for such a claim.
For vehicles with full insurance coverage, drivers can simply leave the matter to their insurers.
Those with third-party coverage can claim the medical costs for passengers. Medical costs for the driver depend on their personal medical insurance plans. They are also responsible for vehicle repair fees themselves.
4. What to do when you spot animals while driving?
Chan Chun-yeung, a 40-year-old driving instructor for heavy goods vehicles, suggested adopting a defensive driving attitude and avoiding speeding, especially on roads in the New Territories and rural areas where wildlife and pets are more likely to be present.
He advised drivers to alternate between high beam and dipped headlights when making a turn, as this might help alert animals to stay away.
Chan said drivers should make every effort to avoid animals when they encounter them on the road by using emergency lights, intermittently honking the horn to alert other motorists to be cautious and passing the animals slowly.
5. What if you hit an animal?
Motorists who hit an animal while driving should pull over to the roadside and turn on their emergency lights, as they are required to do in an ordinary road accident, Chan said.
If it is safe to do so, they should set up a barrier to prevent other motorists from further injuring the animal and call police.
