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‘Tis the season for roadkill. Crashes involving big game are on the rise.
Animal-vehicle accidents are nearly always bad news for the deer or the moose, but the number of people who die in the crashes ison the way up as well. The Highway Loss Data Institute says four people died in Utah last year as the result of a run-in with an animal.
According to the Highway Loss Data Institute:
- November is the peak month for animal/vehicle collisions
- Fatal crashes are up 5 percent nationwide since 2000
- 223 people died nationwide in crashes with animals in 2007. In 2000, it was 150, and in 1993, it was 101.
- 60 percent of those killed in vehicle crashes with animals were not wearing seatbelts.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Ted Tingey says what makes the accidents so deadly is the potential chain reaction. "When they come upon the carcass lying in the roadway, people tend to swerve and try to avoid it, and that causes secondary collisions, which can be just as worse as hitting the animal itself," he said.
Tingey says urban sprawl is part of the problem as it forces the critters out of their habitats. "We have a lot of building that's going on into the mountainsides and hill areas, and so that pushes the habitat farther down looking for food," Tingey said.
Also, as it gets colder, more of the animals are at a lower elevation looking for food. Tingey advised, "We're coming into the winter months, so whether you're traveling down to St. George or going to Logan or anywhere in between, especially in mountainous areas, be alert, especially in the early morning hours and obviously when dusk starts at night. Be aware that these animals are going to be out and they're going to be roaming."
Tingey said if you hit a deer, it's wise to stop and stay at the scene so UHP can assess your damage and take care of the animal right away.
E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
