Autumn weather raises wildlife crash risk across Austria

Wildlife collision risks rise in autumn, particularly at dusk and in darkness, ORF reported. Road safety officials, police, the Lower Austrian Hunting Association and the ÖAMTC motoring club are urging drivers to stay alert and be ready to brake.

In 2025, 322 people were injured in wildlife crashes in Austria. No one was killed, according to Statistics Austria, but serious collisions continue to occur. Lower Austria recorded 85 injuries, the highest number among the provinces, according to figures cited by the ÖAMTC.

About 47 percent of wildlife crashes happen in darkness and a further 10 percent at dusk, although animals may cross roads at any time. In the 2025-26 hunting season, 65,036 wild animals were reported killed in road traffic across Austria. The most commonly affected were roe deer, with 38,139 reported deaths, followed by hares with 15,417 and pheasants with 4,142. The actual toll is likely higher because not all collisions are reported.

The Road Safety Board, known by its German abbreviation KFV, examined the speeds of about 677,000 vehicles roughly 100 metres before and after signs warning of wildlife crossings. Drivers did not reduce their speed on average, the KFV said, and some accelerated after passing the signs.

Speed that was not adapted to conditions was a factor in 38 percent of wildlife crashes, while inattention and distraction contributed to 54 percent, the KFV said. Lower Austrian chief hunter Christoph Metzker said animals move between summer and winter habitats and seek food at dusk. The change to winter time on October 25, combined with poor visibility and roads made slippery by rain and fallen leaves, further increases the evening risk, he said.

If an animal appears on the road, the ÖAMTC advises drivers to hold the steering wheel firmly, brake hard, dip their headlights and sound the horn if necessary. Drivers should swerve only if doing so would not endanger themselves or other road users, said Roland Frisch of ÖAMTC driving technology. Roe deer and wild boar often travel in groups, so drivers should watch for more animals after seeing one. An animal may stop when entering the road or when caught in headlights.

After a collision, drivers should park away from the road if possible, switch on their hazard lights and use a reflective vest and warning triangle. Injured animals should not be touched. The police should be notified even if the animal runs away and nobody is hurt. Police can then contact the relevant hunting association, said Michael Takacs, a federal police director and head of the GEMEINSAM.SICHER initiative.