Two events occur in autumn: hunting is particularly active at dusk, for example because it is looking for food. Additionally, rush hour shifts increasingly into the dark due to the time change. Wild animals can usually get used to the traffic, says Johannes Schiesser, district hunter in St. Pölten, but: “There is no time change for the animals. They continue to live at their natural pace.”
The result is more wildlife crossing accidents this time of year. In general, the number of people injured in these types of accidents increased slightly last year: 334 people were injured, as figures from Statistics Austria show. One person suffered a fatal accident. The largest number of accidents, namely 77, occurred in Lower Austria.
Increased risk in wet conditions and on rural roads
Animals often cross roads in search of food in the new area. “The game often doesn’t recognize the car as a hazard or only recognizes it shortly before,” says Schiesser. Every second accident in Lower Austria is caused by a deer, followed by small animals such as hares or partridges and wild boars. According to the ÖAMTC, there is an increased risk especially on rural roads, especially at forest and field crossings.
An important influencing factor is not only the time change, but also the weather. Leaves on the road and damp or wet roads increase braking distances, says Roland Frisch from the ÖAMTC: “The driver can only compensate for this by reducing the driving speed.”
Drive slower
If you take your foot off the accelerator, it makes a big difference: “If you hit a goat weighing 20 kilos at 50 km/h, the impact on the vehicle and the driver is half a ton; at 100 km/h the impact force is two tons”, says Fresh. Dodge maneuvers should be avoided because the driver’s gaze follows the running animal and the car is automatically directed in that direction.
According to the ÖAMTC, if a collision is unavoidable, you must brake hard and hold the steering wheel firmly. If possible, you should stop in a safe place, wear a high-visibility vest and protect the accident site with the emergency triangle. In principle, every accident involving wild animals – even if the animal escapes and no one is injured – must be reported to the police.