When the weather improves, the number of wildlife accidents also increases. Most accidents of this kind happen in the evening and early morning hours. But accidents involving wild animals can also occur during the day. The transition area between forest and field zones is a particular danger point - conditions that often occur in the Paderborn district. The corresponding danger spots are marked with the sign "Achtung Wildwechsel".
Recognize the danger
Look out for the "Wildlife crossing" danger signs, which indicate particularly affected routes. However, sudden encounters with wild animals can also occur on other roads. As the animals are mostly herd animals, you can expect to see more animals if one crosses the road.
Luckily, the vast majority of wildlife accidents only result in material damage. However, a collision with a deer weighing 20 kilograms at 100 km/h has an impact weight of almost half a ton.
How to behave correctly to avoid wildlife accidents:
- Reduce your speed at unclear forest and field edges
- New roads through wooded areas are particularly dangerous. The game keeps to its usual routes.
- Be careful at dawn and dusk, at night and in fog.
- See an animal at the side of the road? Slow down, honk, brake. Hold the steering wheel
- Do NOT swerve uncontrollably into oncoming traffic, but rather accept material damage. This is usually less serious than an accident with an oncoming vehicle.
- Remember, one animal rarely comes alone. Other animals are likely.
What to do in the event of an accident
- First of all, the accident site must be secured by switching on the hazard warning lights and setting up the warning triangle.
- Wear a warning vest
- Inform the police. Insurance companies will only reimburse the damage caused if an accident is recorded. The police will inform the responsible hunter, who will take care of the killed, injured or escaped animal.
- Always expect to see game outside built-up areas. Roe deer and stags are active at dusk, but can also suddenly appear during the day. Wild boar are also out and about at night. Take particular care at the transition from forest to meadow and along maize fields.
- If you see wild animals, brake immediately in a controlled manner. Pay attention to the traffic behind you. Stop if necessary. Game is unpredictable in its behavior. It can keep running, stop suddenly and also turn around and come back again. Where one animal appears, there are others!
- Do not make any uncontrolled steering movements. If in doubt, hold the steering wheel firmly and brake with all your might. It is better to risk a collision with the deer than with a tree or oncoming traffic.
- Attend a driver safety training course and learn professional braking and evasive maneuvers that are specially adapted to your vehicle (ABS, ESP, ESP+).
- Repeat the training courses regularly
- Attend a driver safety training course and learn professional braking and evasive maneuvers that are specially adapted to your vehicle (ABS, ESP, ESP+).
- Repeat the training courses regularly.