Oh deer. According to the BC Conservation Foundation, November is one of the worst months for vehicle-deer collisions. Photo: Pixabay
BC motorists are being warned to watch out for a lot more than snow on the road.
According to the BC Conservation Foundation, November is one of the worst months for vehicle-deer collisions.
The other dangerous month is May.
Each year in BC, three people are killed and 650 people are injured by collisions involving wildlife.
And more than 24,400 animals are killed by collisions with vehicles.
In the Southern Interior of BC, data from ICBC shows that about 45 per cent of all collisions with wildlife occur between 7 p.m. and midnight.
Deer are involved in approximately 80 per cent of wildlife vehicle collisions.
Common factors of road stretches with high numbers of wildlife vehicle collisions include:
- Where creeks and drainages intersect roads
- Good habitat and forage near the roadside
- Water source nearby
- Long, wide, straight stretches of road
The availability of forage and water close to the road is likely to increase the presence of animals.
Another deadly factor is speed.
When there are good road conditions - long, wide and straight - motorists tend to feel safer and more confident, and therefore accelerate. This increase in speed reduces the reaction time of the driver when an animal is seen on the road.
