REGINA, Sask. — SGI is reminding drivers to keep their eyes on the road to avoid collisions with wildlife, for the October Traffic Safety Spotlight.
Drivers are more likely to encounter moose and deer, especially on highways and rural roads, during the fall season.
There are more than 8,800 wildlife-related collisions on Saskatchewan roads each year. Collisions with wildlife can injure drivers and passengers and cause significant vehicle damage. On average there are over 400 injuries and two fatalities from wildlife-related collisions on Saskatchewan roads every year. *
“Most collisions with wildlife occur on routes drivers travel regularly,” said Karol Noe, interim EVP, Vehicle & Driver Programs for SGI.
“Drivers need to be alert and constantly scanning the road from shoulder to shoulder so they can anticipate and react if wildlife enters the road.”
There are key safe driving habits that can lower the risk of wildlife-related collisions, injuries and fatalities, SGI advises. Paying attention to the road and surrounding area, watching for wildlife warning signs, adjusting speed for road conditions and visibility, and knowing when wildlife activity peaks will improve driver and passenger safety. Dawn and dusk during fall months are the peak times for wildlife collisions. Visibility is reduced when the sun is on the horizon because the glare makes it difficult to see wildlife approaching the road. Sometimes collisions with wildlife are unavoidable, and when this happens, steer towards where the animal came from, not where it's going.
For more information on how to avoid wildlife collisions or what steps to take if you’re in a collision, visit sgi.sk.ca/wildlife-collisions.
