There is no shortage of things that drivers need to watch out for when they are out on the road. From other cars, children, cyclists, and pedestrians, you never know when something will jimp out at you and force you to make a quick decision.
Animals are definitely a threat to safe driving. You never know when a domestic or wild animal will seemingly come out of nowhere and run across the road. The threat from animals is especially prominent when the following facts are in play:
Animals are definitely a threat to safe driving. You never know when a domestic or wild animal will seemingly come out of nowhere and run across the road. The threat from animals is especially prominent when the following facts are in play:
- You live in a high wooded area or in an area where there is a large animal population
- You are driving during dust or dawn
- The seasons are changing and we are in a time of high animal activity
What to do if you hit an animal on the road
No one wants to hit an animal when they are driving. But if you do, are you sure you know what to do next? If you are like most drivers, you probably are not sure what to do if you hit an animal. There is no cut and dry protocol when you hit an animal, but there are certain things that you should do.
Here are some tips on what to do if you hit an animal while driving in Ontario:
- Pull over to the side of the road and make sure everyone is okay. If someone is injured, call 911 for help.
- Inspect your vehicle for damage. If the damage is significant, you should consider calling the police and your insurance company.
- If the animal is injured call the police. They will be able to handle the situation from here. Never try to move an injured wild animal. They are unpredictable and you never know how they will react.
- If the animal is dead, only attempt to remove if it is safe to do so. Otherwise, contact the police and tell them there is an animal on the road.
How to reduce your chances of hitting an animal
Being proactive and understanding what to do to reduce your changes of hitting an animal will help keep you and animals safe. Here are some tips that will reduce your chances of hitting an animal:
- If you see an animal, slow down and beep your horn if necessary. Proceed with caution as there may be other animals in the area as well.
- Slow down when visibilty is reduced due to darkness or poor weather conditions.
- Be on high alert and do not allow any distraction to divert your eyes from the road.
- Keep an eye out on the side of the road for an animal. A telltale sign is shining eyes on the side of the road as your lights catch an animal’s eyes.
- Know your surroundings.
Sometimes it seems like animals come out of nowhere and, unfortunately, there may be times when no matter what you do a collision cannot be avoided. But, if you follow these tips you will significantly reduce your chances of hitting an animal.
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