Spring brings longer days, greener roadsides — and a sharp rise in wildlife on the move.
During peak wildlife activity periods, Road Safety at Work urges drivers to be on alert for animals crossing roads.
“Animals don’t follow traffic rules,” says Trace Acres, program director at Road Safety at Work. “Even a small deer can cause a serious crash, and it often happens before the driver has time to react.”
According to ICBC statistics, the Southern Interior Region has seen an annual average of 5,086 vehicle/wildlife incidents from 2019 – 2023, 439 of which resulted in injury.
Acres says the risk of wildlife collisions increases in spring and summer as animals become more active, with their movement patterns shifting due to feeding and mating cycles, often bringing them closer to roads.
Drivers are more likely to encounter deer during May, while moose activity tends to increase in June and July.
Crashes are most common during dawn and dusk (roughly between 6 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.). Acres says that’s when animals are on the move and visibility can be challenging due to the sun shining in your eyes.
Road Safety at Work says high-risk areas include highways and roads that link rural and suburban areas, especially near green belts, parks, fields, golf courses, or other natural feeding areas.
What drivers can do
Acres says reducing the risk starts with preparation and awareness.
“You can’t predict what an animal will do but you can adjust your driving to lower your chances of a crash.”
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. The safest thing you can do is to drive in a way that gives you more time and space to react,” adds Acres.
What employers can do
For the hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who drive as part of their job, wildlife collisions are just one of many risks on the road.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of traumatic workplace deaths in B.C. Yet most crashes can be prevented, through training, education, and supervision.
Employers can help protect employee who drive occasionally, part time, or full time by:
- Addressing wildlife hazards in safe driving policies, noting when and where collisions are most likely and how drivers are expected to respond
- Providing training on how to avoid collisions
- Using trip planning to avoid high-risk areas
For more tips on driving safely for work or pleasure, and for resources employers can use, visit RoadSafetyAtWork.ca.
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