Government Dismisses Petition for Mandatory Cat Collision Reporting
The Department for Transport has issued a significant update regarding potential legislation that would require drivers to report collisions with cats. This response addresses an ongoing public petition that has gathered substantial support, calling for motorists to be held accountable when they fail to stop after hitting feline companions.
No Current Plans for Legislative Change
Despite the petition arguing that such legislation represents a perfectly reasonable and simple ask, the DfT has confirmed it has no current plans to implement this change. The department emphasised that while they understand the emotional impact of such incidents, their focus remains on broader road safety improvements that benefit all users, including animals.
In a response published on February 3, the government department stated: "On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035."
Existing Legal Framework and Practical Challenges
The DfT highlighted that section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 currently requires drivers to report accidents involving specific animals including:
- Horses
- Cattle
- Mules
- Sheep
- Pigs
- Goats
- Dogs
- Donkeys
Cats are notably absent from this list because the legislation primarily protects animals with working status rather than domestic pets. The department pointed out several practical challenges that would make enforcement difficult:
- Cats are significantly smaller than other listed animals
- They tend to be most active during dawn and dusk when visibility is reduced
- Drivers may be genuinely unaware they have hit a cat
Government's Compassionate Approach and Alternative Measures
While rejecting legislative change, the DfT stressed that Britain remains a compassionate country and encouraged drivers to make reasonable efforts to identify cat owners when possible. The department stated: "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."
The government highlighted alternative measures already in place to address the issue:
- Compulsory cat microchipping introduced in June 2024 requires all cats in England over 20 weeks old to be microchipped and registered
- DEFRA has commissioned research to understand operational challenges preventing cat reunification after collisions
- Improvements to microchip database systems are being developed to enhance accessibility and data accuracy
Petition Progress and Parliamentary Consideration
The petition entitled 'Legislate to require drivers to report collisions with cats' has now gathered over 14,000 signatures. Under parliamentary rules, petitions reaching 100,000 signatures are considered for debate in Parliament, giving campaigners a clear target to aim for despite the government's current position.
The DfT concluded by emphasising that their Road Safety Strategy represents a comprehensive approach involving multiple stakeholders: "Road safety is a shared responsibility, and this strategy reflects that. It considers action needed by government, local authorities, industry, emergency services and communities to tackle the causes of collisions and save lives."
