With the final three months of 2024 in full swing the Central Region Ontario Provincial Police is raising awareness of the increasing risk of wildlife-related vehicle crashes during that stretch.
Between 2021 and 2023, there were 6,066 wildlife-related collisions in OPP Central Region. The crashes from year-to-year break down as follows::
- 2021 - 1,820
- 2022 - 2,053
- 2023 - 2,193
The majority of wildlife-related crashes occur from October to December, with 85.5 per cent involving deer. Deer are more active during the end of the year due to mating season and are often on the move searching for food.
With the potential for an increased number of wildlife-related crashes, the OPP has released the following tips for drivers:
- Reduce speed: Slower speeds give you more time to react if an animal suddenly appears on the road, especially at dawn or dusk when visibility is reduced.
- Watch for signs: Use caution in areas of known high animal populations, which are often indicated by roadway signs.
- Use high beams wisely: When driving at night, use high beams on empty roads when there's no oncoming traffic to give yourself more time to spot and react to wildlife on the road.
- Watch for movement: Look for reflections from your headlights, which often catch the eyes of wildlife.
- Brake firmly, but don't swerve: If a collision seems imminent, it's safer to brake firmly rather than swerving, which could lead to losing control of your vehicle or colliding with another vehicle or fixed object.
- Always stay sober, alert, undistracted and seat-belted when driving.
