Drivers urged to brake rather than swerve for wildlife

Drivers in Upper Austria are being urged to slow down and brake rather than swerve if wildlife crosses the road, ORF reports. About 70 people were injured in wildlife-related crashes in the state last year, and the risk rises in autumn, particularly at dusk.

A crash in mid-September near Pettenbach, in the Kirchdorf district, shows the danger of swerving: a driver veered off the road while avoiding an animal and the car overturned. The occupants were slightly injured. Driving safety experts warn that a swerve can cause a more serious crash, including by sending a vehicle into oncoming traffic.

Daniel Fessl, head of the ÖAMTC driving safety centre in Marchtrenk, in the Wels-Land district, advises drivers to brake as hard as possible when larger animals such as deer or wild boar are on the road. Even reducing speed can lessen the impact, he said. A 20-kilogram deer hit at 50 km/h can strike with an impact equivalent to about 500 kilograms, Fessl said; at twice that speed, the impact is four times greater, or nearly two tonnes. He added that modern cars are designed to withstand such collisions.

Fessl said drivers should respond differently to smaller animals such as hares or hedgehogs. If a driver brakes sharply to avoid one and is hit from behind, they could share liability, even if the following driver did not leave enough distance.

Take care at dusk and report collisions

If wildlife is spotted by the roadside, Fessl advises drivers to dip their headlights, reduce speed and consider sounding the horn. Deer often travel in groups, so drivers should expect more animals to follow the first.

Anyone involved in a collision should put on a high-visibility vest, secure the scene and call the police, who will contact the relevant hunters. Jägerin Elfriede Mayr of Pasching, in the Linz-Land district, warned that an injured animal may struggle and pose a risk to people trying to help. Drivers should leave it where it is, she said, as taking it could amount to poaching. Leaving after hitting an animal can also lead to a report for hit-and-run.

More than 10,000 wild animals were killed on Upper Austria’s roads last year, including about 7,300 deer and around 3,000 hares, foxes, badgers and other small game, according to provincial head gamekeeper Herbert Sieghartsleitner. He said the actual toll is likely higher because many collisions go unreported, with the Innviertel and central region the worst affected.

Warning devices and wildlife crossings

About 660 kilometres of road in Upper Austria are equipped with acoustic wildlife warning devices. The state and participating insurers cover 85 per cent of the purchase costs, with hunters paying the remaining 15 per cent. Another 67 kilometres are being added this year. Mayr said hunters inspect the routes two or three times a year to check, clean or replace devices. The provincial hunting association says its assessments show wildlife crashes have fallen by nearly 80 per cent on roads with the devices.

Mayr also works on measures to protect wildlife, including green bridges: planted crossings over motorways that allow animals to cross safely and preserve their natural routes. Around 10 to 12 more are planned, including one currently being added on the Innkreis motorway.