Don't Want to Leave This Kitten Without Her Mommy? These 6 Ways Of Avoiding Hitting Animals With Your Vehicle Will Help You

Hitting animals on the road is brutal--especially if you're an animal lover. Our world is growing increasingly paved to facilitate the flood of motor vehicles. As such, animal habitats are becoming ever more encroached upon, and thus leaving them endangered. According to the OPP, there are 10,000 vehicle collisions with wildlife on Ontario highways each year. The time of year at which you are most likely to strike an animal on the roads is right now: from October to November with the latter being the peak time of year for run-ins with animals.

Here are some basic facts about wildlife strikes on the highway, according to Workplace Safety North:

• On average, there is a motor vehicle-wild animal collision every 38 minutes
• One out of every 17 motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal
• Motor vehicle-wild animal collisions are increasing annually. In 2007, 13,954 collisions were reported. Many more go unreported.
• 89 percent occur on two-lane roads outside of urban areas
• 86 percent 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 and from October to January.

So while driving in peak road-kill season, what do you do to prevent such incidents from happening?

1. Simply follow the speed-limit: often animals are hit because people are driving too fast to notice them; and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling does not give the animal enough time to react. By keeping within the speed limit you lower your risk of striking an animal.

2. Stay particularly attentive to the chance of animal encounters on the road at dawn, dusk, and a few hours after darkness: These are the peak times at which animals can be seen around and on the roads. Keep your eyes peeled and your speed down. If you see one animal, there's a good chance others are around. 

3. Don't trash and dash: Littering along the highways attracts animals to their shoulders. Use your common-sense--do you really need to throw your take-out refuse out at that moment? If you can't stand the smell of it, put it in the trunk.

4. Use your high-beams: Whenever possible, put on your high beams during those peak times of day mentioned in #2. This will help in seeing those little eyes staring at you from the side of the road and give you time to respond. 

5. If you are heading toward an animal, do not swerve to get out of the way--unless it is a moose: according to Work Place Safety North, "A collision with a moose, which can weigh up to 500 kgs (1200 lbs), carries a significant risk of injury or death to motorists and passengers." If you are about to strike a moose, it is suggested to swerve out of the way, or, if that is not possible, to crouch down below the dashboard and prepare for impact. The impact of a moose's body can crush the roof of a car completely flat. 

6. Steer away from animal in collision: If you can't avoid hitting the animal, aim where it is coming from, not where it is going. Move your eyes in that direction away from the animal, not at it, for your vehicle will go in the direction of your eyes. Brake slightly then look and strike the animal from an angle, not head on. Take your foot off the gas just prior to collision, which will cause the front of your vehicle to rise reducing the risk of the animal coming through your windshield. 

By following these 6 tips, you should be able to avoid colliding with animals on the highway. If you happen to hit one, be cautious about getting out of your vehicle to see it. Depending on the road conditions, this may not be wise. If an animal is not dead, but merely injured, do not approach it. Call the local police or Ministry of Natural Resources office.