Insurer urges drivers to be alert for more wildlife on roadways during spring

Spring is fast approaching and with it comes a caution from State Farm that the increased presence of wildlife along roadways could up hazardous conditions for motorists and wildlife alike.

Motorists across the country are reminded to be on the lookout, notes a statement from State Farm. “The breeding season, bird migration, animals coming out of hibernation and the displacement of habitat caused by urban sprawl are producing increasingly hazardous conditions for motorists and wildlife,” the statement says.

In the United States, the number of deer-related collisions increased 7.7% over the last year, with the average property damage cost per incident being $3,305, the statement says. The presence of deer caused 1.23 million collisions south of the border between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, State Farm adds.

The insurer reported last fall that deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. are three times more likely to occur in November (accounting for 18% of these collisions) than they are on any day from Feb. 1 to Aug. 31. The months with the next most such collisions are October and then December.

Here at home, State Farm cites a Transport Canada report that found four to eight large animal collisions occur every hour; Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources estimates approximately one of every five motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal; and more than 300 New Brunswickers are involved in a moose-vehicle collision every year.

“With the increased risk of encountering wildlife along our highways at this time of the year, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, heed warning signs, and stay focused on the road while you’re driving,” says John Bordignon, media relations spokesperson for State Farm.

“There is clear evidence that wildlife-vehicle collisions are a serious burden to our society at a national and regional level and that the consequences include significant socio-economic, traffic safety and environmental costs,” Ward Vanlaar, vice president of research for the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, notes in the statement. “Unfortunately, it is often not possible to accurately measure where these collisions actually occur, which is a barrier to implementing strategies to reduce this problem,” Vanlaar adds.

Still, motorists are encouraged do a number of things to help reduce the chances of wildlife-vehicle collisions, notes State Farm. These include the following:

• when a driver sees wildlife beside the road, slow down and pass carefully as they may suddenly bolt onto the road;
• remember that deer are most active from 6 pm to 9 pm and 5 am to 7 am;
• use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which wildlife enter roadways; and
• if a collision seems inevitable, trying to swerve out of the way could lead to losing control of the vehicle or place the motorist in the path of an oncoming vehicle.