DfT update over change in the law to require driver to stop and and report this | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department for Transport (DfT) has clarified the rules around when drivers need to stop and report an incident. The update came after a petition was launched calling for a change in the law. The petition to Parliament called for a new policy requiring drivers who have a collision with a cat, to stop, report the incident and take the animal to a vet.

The message urged: “We want the Government to make it law that if you hit a cat you must legally report it and take it to the nearest vets.” More than 10,000 people signed their support, meaning the Government had to issue a response.

Current UK law states that you do have to stop and report an incident where you collide with certain animals, including dogs, but cats are not on the list. The DfT said in their response: “The Government has no current plans to mandate that motorists report a collision involving a cat, or to grant police powers to prosecute motorists who fail to report a collision involving a cat.”

The department explained how the current rules work: “Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals including horses, cattle, ass, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, but not cats or wild animals. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets.

“To introduce such a measure within the provision of section 170, would require primary legislation. (Note that certain legislation still uses the word ‘accident’ although the preferred terms are collision or crash.)”

Difficult to prosecute

Officials also said it would be difficult to enforce a rule mandating drivers to report cases where they have hit a cat. The DfT said: “Because cats are much smaller than other specified animals, and often most active at dawn or dusk, in many cases drivers may not be aware they’ve hit them – particularly with larger vehicles.

“Because of that, it would be difficult to prosecute drivers if the law was changed.” Nonetheless, the group also reminded drivers that should they hit someone’s pet, they should make efforts to try and work out who the owner is and tell them.

The department said: “This is a compassionate country and 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.”

Recent changes in the law

There have been recent changes in the law around cats, as from June 2024, the Government brought in compulsory cat microchipping, to help reunite lost and stray cats with their owners.

The DfT explained: “All cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living.

“The legislation is intended to improve pet welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray pet cats with their keepers. Defra works closely with stakeholders to communicate pet microchipping requirements to the public.