Around 6,000 wildlife-related accidents occur on Estonian roads every year, and this figure is likely to rise in correlation with the increasing number of vehicles on the roads. Before lecturing and cautioning drivers, we need to examine the problem from the perspective of the animal. How might we be able to protect ourselves against the unexpected?
It would be great if wild animals behaved like humans who look left and right before crossing the road to make sure the path is safe. Unfortunately, this is not the case. So why do animals still get involved in road accidents every day?
There are no rally drivers in the forest
According to Jaanus Remm, Associate Professor of Mammalogy in the Department of Zoology at the University of Tartu, one of the reasons for this is that animals are not particularly good at perceiving the speed of travelling vehicles. This applies especially on highways where the speed is higher.
“Wild animals have evolved to live in an environment where objects moving this fast are few and far between. Birds can fly at 60-70 km/h, for example, but they have no contact with wild animals and pose no threat to them. This means that animals are unable to perceive the speed of a moving vehicle and the danger it poses,” explains Remm.
Roe deer are the most frequent cause of accidents on Estonian roads, accounting for nearly 85% of all collisions with large mammals.
Secondly, Remm points out that in darker conditions, the lights of the vehicle make the road more apparent to the animal, almost guiding its way. “This happens quite often with rabbits, for example. Once a rabbit is caught in the headlights, it is very difficult for it to jump out of the beam of light and will continue running on the road.”
In these situations, consider stopping the car and turning off the headlights for a moment to allow the animal to escape the light beam and cross the road.
Remm pointed out that animals often panic when they see a car and develop an irrational instinct to bolt. “Animals lose the ability to analyse which direction they should be going and at what speed. This leads to a wrong decision and they end up diving in front of the car.”
How can you keep animals alive and your car intact?
It is not always possible to avoid a collision with a wild animal, but a few tips can help reduce the likelihood of an accident.
- Pay attention to road signs warning of wild animals on the road. Large mammals are most likely to cross the road in such areas. Also be vigilant on other road sections between forests and fields.
- Wild animals are unpredictable! If you spot a large mammal, slow down and switch on your emergency lamps. Many other animals may hop onto the road after the first one. An animal that has crossed the road may also try to return to the other side. Avoid signalling as this will further startle the animal.
- Be attentive at dusk. Wildlife activity is higher before sunrise and after sunset. So be particularly vigilant at these times.
- Make sure the vehicle is in good condition. Check the brakes, tyres and windscreen wipers as they play a major role in preventing collisions.
- Have a look at the animal hazard map of national roads. This will highlight the areas where most road accidents have occurred in recent years.
- Maintain separation distance! This should be sufficient to avoid a collision if the car in front of you brakes sharply to avoid hitting an animal.
Insurance – how can it help you?
Casco insurance is a useful tool in the event of a collision with a wild animal, but it is not available for older vehicles. In this case, you can benefit from extra traffic insurance cover to compensate for any damage caused to your vehicle as a result of a collision with an animal.
Extra cover is intended specifically for older vehicles that are ineligible for casco insurance. This means that in the event of a collision with an animal, the car owner is not liable to pay for any damages as they are indemnified by the insurance company, just like with casco insurance.
Extra cover ‘Collision with an animal’ can be purchased in conjunction with traffic insurance and applies to collisions with any animal or bird.