With autumn, accidents at wildlife crossings increase again in Austria. The previous year there were 301 wildlife accidents with personal injuries, 334 people were injured and one was fatal. The number of injuries increased slightly compared to 2021, the ÖAMTC reported, citing Statistics Austria. Most wildlife accidents occurred in Lower Austria (77), followed by 76 in Upper Austria and 46 in Styria.
Death toll in Lower Austria
There were 44 traffic accidents involving games in Carinthia, 24 in Tyrol and Burgenland, four in Salzburg and three in Vorarlberg and Vienna. The only fatality occurred in Lower Austria. Particular attention is required in the early hours of the morning and evening, as accidents involving wild animals are particularly common at these times.
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You should definitely keep an eye on both sides of the street. Roland Frisch, chief instructor for driving technology at ÖAMTC: “Even though most people unconsciously expect the animal to come from the right, the animal can run into the road from both sides.”
Tips from the experts
If a collision is unavoidable, you must brake hard, hold on to the steering wheel, and stay on course. The greatest danger comes from risky evasive maneuvers. “The consequences for car occupants and other people involved are dramatic if you leave the road, end up in oncoming traffic or hit a tree on the side of the road.
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If the braking distance is no longer sufficient, it may be better to accept a collision with the animal”, emphasized Frisch. “If you hit a 20-kilo buck at 50 km/h, half a ton will impact the vehicle. and driver “At 100 km/h the impact force is two tons”, explained Frisch.
There is also an increased risk on rural roads, especially at forest crossings and in the countryside. “Therefore, in the wildlife crossing warning signage area, you must drive very carefully and prudently, be prepared to brake and increase the distance to the vehicle in front accordingly,” the expert advised. What is important is not only the front view, but also the side view of the vehicle.
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As soon as you see an animal, you will have to significantly reduce your speed, lower your high beams and honk your horn. “As wild animals often flee in groups, drivers should also expect that one animal may be followed by another.” Modern wildlife warning devices are a useful addition but are no substitute for careful driving.
Risk of rear collision
Drivers cannot brake suddenly and surprise the traffic behind them. If you brake for an animal, you will have to bear part of the damage to your vehicle in the event of a rear-end collision due to partial negligence.
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Jurisprudence assesses the legally correct behavior of drivers mainly based on the size of the animal: in the event of a collision with a wild boar, deer or deer, the risk of injury to the car’s occupants is considered so great that contributory negligence is generally not attributed. The ÖAMTC therefore advises – especially in times of increased wildlife crossing – to use the correct lighting and maintain a particularly large distance from the person driving in front.
After an accident with a wild animal, you should, if possible, be kept in a safe place. In addition, the emergency lights must be switched on, the warning vest must be put on and the accident site must be protected with the safety triangle.
Any injured people must be treated and the police (or, if known, the ranger) notified, even if the (sometimes injured) animal continues to run. The so-called “blue light tax” does not apply, the ÖAMTC emphasized. Do not touch injured animals. Anyone who takes wounded or dead game with them is committing the crime of theft.