Wildlife Safety While On The Road

Roads attract wildlife because they give animals a clear travel corridor, easy access to food, and a source of salt in the winter. Many species are active at dawn and dusk when visibility is poor and traffic volume is high.

Watch for Signs

A Wildlife Warning Sign is a yellow diamond shaped sign. The sign warns of a hazard ahead, and advises drivers to be cautious. The sign does not require drivers to slow down to a particular speed, unless there is an adjacent speed limit sign posted as well.

Drivers must obey wildlife warning signs and any associated speed changes. The signs are located in high wildlife use areas. Drivers must not disregard the signs even if they have been seen many times before. Driver complacency is dangerous.

Speed

Speed is one of the most common factors in vehicle collisions.

Speed:

• Reduces the drivers ability to steer away from objects in the roadway
• Extends the distance required to stop
• Increases the force of impact, in the event of a collision

With good road conditions, drivers tend to increase their speed. Some studies suggest that wildlife vehicle collisions occur more than expected on clear nights, on dry road conditions and on long straight stretches. Drivers may tend to be more cautious on curves or in poor weather. By maintaining the posted speed, drivers can compensate for increased risk.

Wildlife Safety Tips

• Watch for wildlife warning signs and slow down in areas where animal crossing signs are posted.
• Scan the roadway and ditches ahead for animals. Improve your ability to see by keeping your windshield and headlights clean.
• Slow down in curves and when reaching the crest of a hill.
• Watch for the shining eyes or silhouette of an animal at night and use high beams when there are no oncoming vehicles.
• Slow down if an animal is on or near the road and be prepared to stop. Their behaviour is unpredictable.
• If you see one animal, be on the look out for more since some travel in groups
• Be particularly careful in November, as days get shorter and animals begin to migrate.
• Brake firmly if an animal is in your path. Do not swerve to avoid it.
• Honk in a series of short bursts to chase animals away.
• If you do have a collision with an animal, report the collision to the RCMP or local police. If the animal is injured, do not approach it. Injured animals can be very dangerous.

Use Your Vehicle

• Maintain your vehicle - Keep head lights, signal lights, and tail lights clean and in good working order.
• Clean your windshield, inside and out, once a week, or more if someone smokes, and check and repair windshield wiper blades.
• Keep headlights properly aligned to avoid blinding other drivers and optimize road coverage. Keep your headlights clear of dirt and road salt residue. Check the condition of the headlight lenses in the spring and fall and clean, repair or replace if they are cloudy or scratched.
• Wear your seatbelt at all times.
• Honk your horn or flash your lights to scare animals off the road. This may scare a deer off the road, but does not usually work for moose.
• In a 3 lane situation, when it is safe to do so, and when it is not impeding other traffic, drive in the middle lane to provide more distance from the ditch.
• Use high beams when it is safe to do so, and scan the road ahead with quick glances.
• At night, use the high beams of the vehicle in front of you to extend your effective sight distance.