Road Safety at Work is reminding drivers to stay alert as weather gets warmer and animals become more active.
“Animals don’t follow traffic rules,” said Trace Acres, program director at Road Safety at Work in a news release. “Even a small deer can cause a serious crash, and it often happens before the driver has time to react.”
Across North Central B.C., which includes the Cariboo region, ICBC reports an average of 2,989 crashes involving animals with 255 injuries over the last five years. There is also an average of two deaths per year in animal-involved collisions each year in the region.
In May, deer begin to be seen more around B.C. and in June and July moose are more active.
Collisions with animals happen most often around dawn and dusk, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and then 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. With animals being more active in those times and visibility challenges from sun being in drivers' eyes, drivers should be extra cautious when travelling around those times. Higher-risk areas are highways and roads that link rural and suburban areas.
To keep themselves, and others, safe on the roads drivers are encouraged to:
- Plan routes to avoid key wildlife areas during high-risk times or choose safer travel times
- Stay alert and watch for animal crossing signs. They’re posted along roads where wildlife are often seen
- Slow down when you see an animal on the side of the road. Others may be nearby
- Scan roadsides and ditches for movement, especially in low light
- Avoid swerving around an animal, which can lead to more serious crashes
- Warn other drivers about the presence of wildlife by using four-way flashers or flashing your headlights
“Even seasoned drivers get caught off guard,” Acres said in the release. “The safest thing you can do is to drive in a way that gives you more time and space to react.”
Road Safety at Work is a WorkSafeBC Injury Reduction Initiative managed by the Justice Institute of BC. It aims to eliminate work-related motor vehicle crashes, deaths, and injuries in B.C.
