Animal traffic guide
The road is wild
At dusk, accidents involving wild animals increase on the roads throughout Germany. Summertime, for instance, is not only high season for campers. At this time, roe deer are also looking for wives, and it is well known that love makes you blind. Suddenly Bambi & co. scamper across the road. A danger to man and beast.
Incredibly dangerous
Most accidents occur in the evening and early-morning hours, whereby the boundaries between forest and field are particular danger hot spots. You must expect the regular crossing of wild animals as they move from the forest to fields to graze and then return to the safety of the forest again.
During the mating season of deer in the summer and stags and wild boar in the autumn and winter, the reactions are unpredictable and therefore even more dangerous to you as a driver.
This is how you can prevent an accident
- Adhere to the wild animal signs and reduce your speed. Frequently, there is a "Wild Animal Crossing" sign in particularly dangerous spots or areas with a high density of wild animals. You should considerably reduce your speed here. 80 km/h can be too fast in the event of a suddenly appearing wild animal.
- Keep an eye on both edges of the road and maintain a safety margin to the right-hand edge.
- A wild animal is rarely alone. Always expect several animals.
- Wild animals are rarely sensible: Animals do not always leave the road by the shortest path, but often run in front of the vehicle.
- If there are wild animals on the road, do not endanger the traffic behind you. Only brake if there is no risk of impact from the vehicle behind you. If the road is otherwise clear, you should brake, honk the horn and lower your lights to allow the animals to escape.
- Never swerve uncontrollably. You might collide with a tree or with oncoming traffic. In this case, a controlled accident with a wild animal is the lesser evil.
What to do after a crash
- Secure the accident site immediately after a collision: Switch on your hazard lights and erect the warning triangle at the appropriate distance.
- Attend to any injured persons.
- Remove the dead animal from the road to ensure there is no danger to other drivers. Touch the animal only using gloves, cloths or similar, if possible.
- Never take the dead animal with you! You might be risking a poaching fine.
- Immediately report the accident to the nearest police station and forestry office. Furthermore: you can tether the animal and, in emergencies, you can kill them to end any suffering.
Vehicle damage during an accident involving wild animals is normally covered by car insurance - as long as it is a so-called furred animal.
