Athena’s Law: Introduce new requirements for drivers who hit a cat
- Parliament:
- 2019–24
- Signatures:
- 13,081
- Responded:
- 27 Jun 2023
- Department:
- Department for Transport
The petition
To create a new law that requires drivers to stop if they hit a domesticated cat and first seek a veterinarian, and if failing to do so, the owner themselves or an identifiable neighbour, and exchange full contact details.
I recently lost my cat in a road collision, Athena, who was my best friend. She was a stray from Cyprus when I found her back in 2019. She was hit by a driver who was speeding significantly in what was a 30mph road. They didn’t stop and left her to die on the side of the road. Hopefully by creating this law it will encourage people to drive more safely as well as be more compassionate towards animals.
The government's response
We recognize the deep upset caused by losing a pet, but a legal obligation to report road traffic incidents involving cats would be very challenging to enforce. We have no plans to change the law.
Losing a pet is a horrible experience and the government is clear about the heartbreak that evidently causes for many people, as in this sad case. The government is working hard to make our roads safer for everyone who uses them, which in turn will help reduce the risk to all animals.
Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, drivers must report accidents involving horses, cattle, dogs and other animals, but not cats or wild animals. Changing this would require primary statute and expanding it to include cats would be challenging.
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.
This is a compassionate country and so although there is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads, drivers are advised by the police that, if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation.
In addition, Rule 286 of The Highway Code advises drivers to report any accident involving an animal to the police, and if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation.
Department for Transport
Highlighted: the sentence the model picked as the strongest evidence cited.