As pleasant spring weather brings both humans and animals out of their dens, a B.C. initiative is reminding motorists to exercise heightened caution as vehicle-wildlife collisions continue to rise each year.
Road Safety at Work, which is funded by WorkSafeBC and managed by the Justice Institute of British Columbia, is reminding drivers across the province how to be more vigilant along wildlife corridors, as thousands continue to end up in collisions.
Each year, the Southern Interior experiences an average of 5,086 road collisions involving wildlife, of which 439 鈥� almost nine per cent 鈥� cause human injury.
In 2023, the most recent year ICBC shared data from, incidents in the region reached a five-year high of 5,548, with 472 human injuries.
Two people in the southern Interior will also die each year from vehicle collisions with wildlife.
鈥淓ven a small deer can cause a serious crash, and it often happens before the driver has time to react," Trace Acres, Road Safety at Work's program director, said in a release. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 predict what an animal will do, but you can adjust your driving to lower your chances of a crash."
According to Road Safety at Work, May is the month when drivers will most likely encounter deer, while moose activity increases in June and July. Crashes happen most during dawn and dusk, roughly 6 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., "when animals are on the move and visibility can be a challenge due to sun shining in your eyes," the release explains.
High-risk spots include highways and roads between rural and suburban areas, especially near greenbelts, parks, fields, golf courses and other grazing areas.
To navigate potential run-ins with wildlife and minimize collisions, Road Safety at Work encourages motorists to plan alternate routes that avoid key wildlife areas around dawn and dusk, or choose hours of the day when animals are less active.
It also emphasizes watching for animal crossing signs, slowing down when animals are seen along the road, scanning roadsides and ditches for movement (especially in low light), avoiding swerving around animals, and alerting other drivers to nearby wildlife using four-way flashers or headlights.
The release notes employers can also help protect employees who use vehicles for work or commuting, by addressing wildlife hazards in safe-driving policies and noting when and where collisions are most likely.
鈥淭he best way to protect yourself is to stay alert, slow down, and be prepared for the unexpected,鈥� Acres said. 鈥淭he safest thing you can do is to drive in a way that gives you more time and space to react.鈥�
Learn more about best practices for motorists at roadsafetyatwork.ca.
