Tips To Avoiding Animal-Related Auto Collisions
August 12th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
When you get behind the wheel of your car, worrying about an animal vehicle collision probably isn’t top of mind. But it should be, because animals frequently find their way from the woods to the highways and suburban streets, putting them at risk of being hit by an unsuspecting car.
Encountering animals on the road while driving can be stressful and scary. Many animal accidents with cars cause bodily injuries, ranging from minor to serious. Unfortunately, many also result in fatalities.
Whether you encounter a small squirrel scurrying across the road or a massive moose standing still in the middle of your lane, an animal vehicle collision can cause serious injury to both you and the animal, not to mention your car.
How to avoid animal accidents with cars
Most animal accidents with cars occur when a creature suddenly dashes into the road in front of vehicles. They can also occur when animals are standing on the road and drivers don’t see them until it’s too late to stop. Avoiding wildlife on the road requires knowing how to react when you suddenly come upon an animal directly in front of you. These tips can help you avoid animal-related accidents.
1. Be vigilant
When driving in the mountains or countryside, a wild animal accident becomes a real possibility. As you drive, always anticipate what’s around the corner. If you see signs indicating the presence of wildlife activity, slow down, exercise caution, and expect the unexpected. Keep in mind that some animals move in groups. If you spot one, there may be more nearby.
2. Reduce your speed
If you spot an animal in the road, immediately reduce your speed and, if necessary, come to a complete stop. You want to avoid, if possible, having to slam on your brakes at the very last moment. The sooner you spot the animal, the more time you will have to safely apply the brakes and avoid a wild animal accident. If it’s a large animal, such as a deer or moose, wait for it to move out of the road. If the animal is a deer, flashing your lights or honking your horn may encourage it to move. Don’t try this technique with a moose, as they can be very aggressive when provoked.
If you spot an animal on the side of the road, slow down, take a moment to enjoy its beauty, and make sure that as you pass it doesn’t suddenly dash out on to the road.
3. Avoid sharp turns
When drivers unexpectedly encounter an animal on the road, their first impulse is typically to swerve in order to avoid an animal vehicle collision. This is definitely not recommended, as a sharp turn made at the last minute can cause your car to lose control and result in a collision.
4. Dusk and dawn driving
There are specific times when the probability of animal accidents with cars increases. Be on your highest alert at dusk and dawn, when animals tend to be especially active. Deer are most active during evenings and nights, when they are hardest to spot.
5. Seasonal factors
To avoid a wild animal accident, be extra vigilant during peak season. Early autumn is mating season for moose and other animals, so they are on the move. Deer are most visible during fall and early winter. As spring approaches, deer and other animals in the wild begin venturing out with their families and can be spotted along mountain and country roads. In 2018, the highest number of animal collision fatalities occurred during July through September, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
6. Use your brights
If you have the road to yourself, it is okay to use your high-beam headlights. Doing so will make it much easier for you to spot an animal on the road at night. If an oncoming car approaches, be mindful and turn off your brights, so you don’t blind the other driver.
7. Use the middle lane
This tip applies when you’re driving on a multi-lane highway. Sometimes just a few inches or feet can be the difference in whether you’re able to avoid an animal collision. Driving in the center lane gives you a little more breathing room and reduces the likelihood of hitting an animal on the road.
In the event of a wild animal accident, what should you do? If it’s a large animal, pull off the road to a safe space. Stay inside your vehicle, as an injured moose or deer could be dangerous. Check for injuries to yourself and passengers, and call for emergency aid if needed.
Wildlife vehicle collision statistics
There are more than 300,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions in the United States every year, according to UC Davis’ Road Ecology Center. Over 24,000 of these collisions result in death to the animal and almost 2,000 cause driver casualties.
The Center compiled wildlife vehicle collision statistics covering 2015 to 2018 for the state of California. During these years, there were just short of 30,000 collisions with wildlife in California alone. However, wildlife vehicle collision statistics don’t take into account animals like dogs and cats that are not considered wild and are often killed in urban areas. From 1975 to the mid-2000s, there was an increase in deaths from collisions with animals, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but thankfully there has been a decline in animal collision fatalities since then.
State Farm insurance received just short of two million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Based on these claims, the company indicates that U.S. drivers have a 1 in 116 chance, on average, of a collision with an animal.
Where are animal accidents with cars most prevalent? As one would expect, most collisions are in rural states like Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Leading the pack is West Virginia, where one in 38 drivers has a likelihood of colliding with an animal, according to State Farm.
If you have the misfortune of damaging your car from colliding with an animal, bring it to your nearest Fix Auto shop. We fix damaged cars right the first time and every time!
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Santa Maria, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the northern Santa Barbara County.
