Roads: Accidents

(asked on 16th July 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any representations they have received which have called for legislation that requires drivers to stop, check and report any road collisions involving cats if they are injured on the road.


Answered by
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Portrait
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This question was answered on 31st July 2026

Although there is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads, drivers should, if possible, make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation.

There are, however, no plans to introduce a legal duty for drivers to report collisions with cats. Cats are much smaller than other specified animals, and often most active at dawn or dusk. In many cases drivers, especially those of larger vehicles, may not be aware they have hit them. As such, it would be difficult to prosecute drivers if the law was changed.

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