The risk of being involved in a deer or moose accident increases in the fall.
As the nights get darker in autumn, the risk of being involved in a deer or moose accident increases.
Collisions between motorists and motorcyclists with moose and deer cause not only personal injuries but also considerable material damage every year. Animals also suffer in collisions, are injured, die or have to be euthanized.
A total of 2021 game animal accidents occurred in road traffic in mainland Finland in 13. (Source: Statistics Finland). In Pirkanmaa, 108 moose collisions and as many as 1,456 deer collisions were recorded.
Be careful in the evening and morning twilight
Deer and moose are most active at dusk, especially at sunset and sunrise. The most dangerous time for drivers is 1-3 hours after sunset. At the end of the year, this coincides with morning and afternoon commutes. The busiest times are September, October, November and spring. The peak of moose accidents is in September-October, while deer accidents occur most often in May and November-December.
Drivers can do their part to reduce accidents
The best way to avoid a deer accident is to reduce your speed on sections of road that have been identified as risky and are marked with warning signs. The speed of a collision largely determines how serious the consequences of an accident will be. Reducing speed gives the driver more time to react to sudden situations and also reduces injuries in the event of a collision.
In high-risk areas and times, drivers are also asked to be vigilant. A moose collision is often caused by a distraction such as an obstruction to vision, oncoming traffic, bad weather conditions or the driver's mind wandering, which makes it difficult to spot a moose. So remember at least the following:
- Don't text or scroll through your phone while driving, keep your eyes and attention on the traffic.
- Watch the edges of the road; be especially vigilant in areas where deer fences begin and end.
- Pay attention to the "Hirvivaara" road signs; the majority of crashes occur in areas marked with the moose danger road sign.
- Avoid using fog lights; attention is easily focused on the bright area of light in front of the car, when your eyes should be looking far ahead.
If you see a deer on the road, slow down. The animals often behave unpredictably and move in herds. Also warn oncoming drivers of the deer you have spotted, for example by flashing your lights. In the event of an encounter, if possible, you should try to avoid the animal in the direction of its rear end.
The most important task after a deer accident is to warn other traffic. This prevents further accidents, which can have even more serious consequences than the original accident. Instructions for acting at the scene of a game accident can be found on the Finnish Game Centre website: https://riista.fi/riistatalous/riistavahingot-ja-konfliktit/toiminta-riistaonnettomuuden-sattuessa/
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