Wildlife awareness: Avoiding a collision
According to Defenders of Wildlife, be alert when driving in wildlife areas:
- Take notice of and heed wildlife crossing signs
- Pay attention to and scan both sides of the road
- Avoid distracted driving
- Wear seatbelts
Wildlife awareness: Is it safe to swerve?
Swerving can cause loss of control which can lead to hitting an object or veering into oncoming traffic. If a collision with an animal is unavoidable, consider:
- Holding securely to the steering wheel
- Applying brakes firmly
- Coming to a stop
- Remaining in lane
Wildlife awareness: Avoiding a collision
- Slow down and increase following distance
- Limit driving in wildlife areas at dawn and/or dusk, if possible
- Use high-beam headlights, but only if there’s no oncoming traffic
- Avoid overdriving the vehicle’s headlights
- Look for reflective eyes of deer in the distance
- Keep dashboard lights on low
- Avoid internal lights that can cause glare and reduce visibility
