Watch for Wildlife

Tips to Reduce Your Collision Risk

Collisions with wild animals can result in serious vehicle damage, personal injury or even death.

Know the Facts, Reduce the Risk

• On average, there is a motor vehicle/wild animal collision every 37 minutes
• One out of every 16 motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal
• Motor vehicle/wild animal collisions are increasing annually. In 2005, 14,097 collisions were reported. Many more go unreported.
• 89 per cent occur on two-lane roads outside of urban areas
• 86 per cent occur in good weather
  

Wild animals are unpredictable at all times. However, there are two peak times when the risk of a collision is highest: May and June when animals seek road salt in ditches and try to escape biting insects and during the fall mating and migration seasons.

Some areas of Ontario have a higher proportion of reported wildlife collisions than other areas.

The five areas of Ontario with the highest number of combined property damage, injury and fatal collisions with wildlife are:

1. Ottawa — 886
2. Simcoe County — 656
3. Kenora — 521
4. Lanark County — 481
5. Thunder Bay — 463

The Province of Ontario has taken a number of steps to help keep animals from wandering onto the road, including:

• Installing fencing along major highways
• Removing roadside brush to improve sightlines and visibility for drivers
• Draining salty ponds beside highways, which may attract wildlife
• Posting warning signs where there is a history of wildlife collisions
• Installing highway lighting to improve visibility at night

Reduce Your Collision Risk

Watch

• Scan the road ahead from shoulder to shoulder. When you see wildlife beside the road, slow down and pass carefully as they may suddenly bolt onto the road.
• Watch for the yellow wildlife warning signs that indicate an area of increased risk. Slow down when travelling through these areas.
• Use high beams at night where possible and watch for glowing eyes of animals

Steer

• Stay in control. Watch your speed and take extra precautions when driving at night as visibility is greatly reduced. Slowing down will give you that extra second to respond.
• Never swerve suddenly. This could cause your vehicle to go out of control or head into oncoming traffic.

Brake

• brake firmly if an animal is standing on, or crossing, the road. Never assume the animal will move out of your way.

Stop

• Stop as safely as possible if a wild animal is crossing the road. Remember, if one animal crosses the road, others may follow.

If possible, avoid driving during dusk or dawn when most wildlife collisions occur. Swerving to avoid hitting a wild animal may result in a more serious collision. If hitting a wild animal is unavoidable, remember to stay in control      ... Watch, Steer, Brake and Stop.

Road safety. It starts with you