Kangroos vs v8s

I will keep my fingers crossed that this is the case. Prefer my silver 76 to remain kangaroo free.....

Firstly, I'd say that no one knows what 'Roos will do, in any particular situation. Not even the 'roos themselves!

Had a neighbour years ago when we lived on the Hamilton River south of McKinlay, who reckoned that 'roos were quite often startled by an oncoming vehicle, when the driver backed off on the loud pedal when he spied the 'roos. His theory was that the 'roos got used to the sound of the approaching vehicle, then the sudden change in engine note, and they got a fright.

I've tried this plenty of times and it does work, but there's always one marsupial that suddenly needs to be on the other side of the road, and they're the ones that often cause the most damage.

Jed, maybe the pulsating note of the V8's is a warning to them, whereas the 6's are a steady, constant noise? Dunno what it is, but wherever there's 'roos there's going to be animal strikes.

Bob

Surely you can apply for some research grant so you could conduct further studies... Then you can publish your findings in a paper entitled something like "How driving a V8 reduces your *impact* on local fauna".

I see a lot more kangaroos when driving my Prado than when driving the X-Trail - I put it down to the fact that the Prado has extra lighting so I can actually see the 'roos.

Jed,
You could be onto something here I drive a 76 series wagon and live in Canberra. In the winter driving south about 20km there are always plenty of roos. The majority of car strikes seem to be from side on and amazingly on smaller cars. I used to drive a Camry and had numerous close calls but in the last few years since having the rumble of the V8 no close calls. Intersting!! Never really thought about just thought it was cruel how little cars seem to get the majority of stikes but my 76 series with the bar work has had no encounters.

Having lived around broken Hill and further down on the murray, I have always subscribed to the practice that if the roo is stationary on the edge if the road, maintain your speed. The change in speed/engine noise startles the roo who will then do anything unpredictable. I was told this by people that lived there all their lives and after a while, trial and error I started to believe it.

If the roo is on the move, good luck, dont lock up the brakes or swerve, be prepared to hit the roo.

I now live near canberra with lots of night driving, north south and east of canberra and over the last 30+ years have never hit a roo front on. I have had a number of roos jump into the side of the cars (including 80 series) but never front on. Lots of roos where I live but my biggest concern is deer and they are fast and unpredictable.

It is unnatural to maintain speed and takes a lot of practice but appears to work, No idea if there is any science behind it but it works for me.

Also have been to too many serious accidents where people have locked up the brakes or swerved for a roo. There is no forgiveness with run off with a lot of rural roads (mainly roll overs).

I have the v8 cruiser with 3 inch exhaust and mud tyres which makes a fair noise. I reckon that noise would scare anything within klms so you may be right.

Dave

A large big Red jumped out in front of my 200 from a cutting in the bush while I was doing 100kmph. It did a lot of damage even though I had an ARB bullbar.

The V8 Diesel did nothing to scare that one.