297 - Driver to have proper control of a vehicle etc.
Is it illegal to hit a dog and drive off uk. The instinctive reaction for a dog owner passer by or responsible driver when a vehicle has hit a dog is to run into the road after the dog paying little mind to the surrounding traffic or other hazards. If you hit another type of animal such as a cat or a fox you are not required by law to. The rules in detail.
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1980 deals with the duty to report an accident and specifically states that a driver must stop when involved in an accident by which damage is caused to an animal other than an animal in or on that vehicle. Currently it is not illegal for motorists to drive away if they hit a cat whereas those whose vehicles collide with dogs horses cattle sheep and pigs must stop and report it to the police. Fail to render assistance.
Eating or drinking while driving. Fail to stop after an accident. If you hit an animal with your car call emergency services and check on all occupants in any vehicle involved.
If you hit an animal which is covered by The Road Traffic Act 1988 namely dogs goats horses cattle donkeys mules sheep and pigs you are legally required to report it to the police. File a claim with your insurance carrier most of whom cover repairs from animal damage in comprehensive policies. If you leave the scene of an accident the police can charge you with the following offences.
While youre advised to hit the animal if it means avoiding injury or death to yourself and others youre actually meant to contact the owner police or the RSPCA. The key road rules and reference numbers regarding animals are. If you hit one of these animals you are required by law to report it to the police².
In many places you are not even legally required to swerve out of the way since doing so could cause an accident. If your dog is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous or menacing dog and it is missing you must notify your local council within 24 hours of your first noticing that your dog has gone missing. However if the animal you have hit is not listed above it may still be worth contacting the police to inform them of the incident.