Most animals are cute and fun to watch – until they are standing doe-eyed in front of your vehicle on a busy highway. Unfortunately, collisions with animals are all too common in the U.S., costing billions of dollars in vehicle damages every year, and worse – hundreds of fatalities. According to Insurance Journal, collisions with deer alone cost drivers and insurers more than $4 billion in vehicle repairs and cost the lives of 200 people between the summers of 2011 and 2012.
Here in Madison, we have plenty to worry about in addition to deer. Though there is little you can do to control wildlife, there are steps you can take to drive more defensively and avoid run-ins with animals. Continue reading to learn our top tips for preventing and surviving a wildlife collision.
1. Always wear your safety belt
This is the most important step and the first step you can take before a collision. You never know when you might find yourself face-to-face with a deer in your headlights. Always wear your safety belt no matter how long your trip will be. Seatbelts save lives every day.
2. Slow down near animal crossings and in heavily wooded areas
Animal crossing signs are yellow and have a diamond shape. They indicate the presence of wildlife in the area and often mark places where wildlife has been known to cross a road or busy highway. If you notice one of these signs, slow your speed and be extra-vigilant about your surroundings. Be at a heightened alert during early morning hours and at dusk, when many animals are on the move.
3. Use your high beams at night
So long as there is no oncoming traffic, use your high beams when driving at night. This affords you more time to spot wildlife in the road and slow down as you approach it.
4. Honk your horn
Most animals are easily scared away by loud noises. Try honking your horn loudly and repeatedly to scare the animal away.
5. Don’t swerve
If you cannot avoid impact, your first instinct may be to swerve to avoid the animal. This can be a fatal mistake, as it could result in a collision with another vehicle or send your car tumbling off the road. Instead, stay in your lane, applying the brakes as firmly as possible. If you release the brakes just before colliding with the animal, you may also be able to avoid picking the animal up with the nose of your car and sending it into your windshield.
It happens quickly…
It’s easy to run through the steps you would take if you suddenly saw an animal in the road, but not so easy when you actually have to do it. Deer can dart out in front of your vehicle in the blink of an eye. If you aren’t paying attention to the road because you are on your cell phone or adjusting the radio, you might not have time to respond at all. For that reason, drivers should always practice distraction-free driving.
Living in Madison, where there is a high concentration of wildlife, it is important that drivers know their insurance covers them for collisions with animals. Since this is not standard coverage under a collision policy, drivers must add comprehensive protection to ensure a claim is paid. For more information about insurance claims involving wildlife or to request a car insurance quote, call Monty at Homewood Insurance. We look forward to serving you soon.
