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How To Avoid Wildlife Collisions – Essential Tips for Every Motorcycle Rider

Last Update: 29 July 2023

How To Avoid Wildlife Collisions - Essential Tips for Every Motorcycle Rider - MOTORESS
How To Avoid Wildlife Collisions – Essential Tips for Every Motorcycle Rider

In any location you ride, you’ll encounter numerous species of wildlife, both big and small. Being surrounded by nature’s beauty adds an exhilarating dimension to your riding experience. However, it is crucial to recognise that all these creatures, no matter their size, present potential hazards for motorcyclists. To ensure your safety, preserve your motorcycle, and peacefully coexist with the wildlife along your route, I’ve compiled essential tips below to help you steer clear of wildlife collisions!  Embracing these guidelines will allow you to savour the joy of riding, avoid wildlife collisions while respecting and safeguarding the natural inhabitants of the road!

When To Expect a Wildlife Encounter

Large animal encounters are unfortunately a significant risk for rider injury and even death. Animals such as deer can enter the road at any time.

Most wildlife collisions can happen throughout the year and anywhere, but most wildlife collisions occur:

  • Between 7:00 p.m. (19:00) until midnight, when darkness falls and animals become more active. In fact, statistics show that collisions involving wildlife tend to happen one hour before dawn and one hour after dusk on two-lane highways and in 80 kph zones (50 mph).
  • On long straight stretches of road which offer favourable roadside habitat and water nearby.
  • On secluded, rural, two-lane roads.
  • During spring/summer and again in the fall (October through January), coinciding with the mating season for moose and deer.

So, if you’re riding through a beautiful rural location late at night in the spring or fall, be sure to do the following:

Pay Attention To Roadside Signs especially the yellow triangle signs featuring animals in the middle. These signs are crucial, and even if you encounter them repeatedly on the same road stretch, avoid becoming complacent. They serve a purpose, usually indicating previous wildlife collisions in the area or near a food source. If you see a sign, slow down, and be ready to brake or swerve.  Corridors where large animals frequently enter the road are always marked with animal crossing signs. Stay on extra alert in these zones and cautious as you ride.

Reduce Speed  It’s easy to be calmed into a false sense of security on long stretches of rural road when there are few other vehicles around. You might be tempted to speed through these areas, but remember higher speeds diminish your reaction time and steering ability to avoid objects on the road, consequently increasing the force of impact in case of any collision. Stay cautious and maintain a safe speed to enhance your safety.

Maintain proper following distance. Whether you’re riding solo or in a group, proper two to three second rule following distance is key. Always maintain a good distance to allow for faster reaction times.

Ride At Heightened Defensiveness.  This involves closely monitoring road conditions and anticipating potential hazards. When it comes to wildlife collisions, defensive riding means:

  • Pay close attention to both sides of the road including the ditch, shoulder, and right of way.
  • Keep Alert for any signs of movement and reflective eyes (resulting from your headlamp shining on the animals’ eyes).
  • Mentally prepare, always have an “out / escape route” strategy ready. Think about how you would react if an animal suddenly darted out in front of you. Plan your escape route as you ride. This means you should be able to exit your lane or position at a moment’s notice.
  • Always ride wearing all the gear. Your gear is your best defence against serious injury should a collision occur.

Use Your Motorcycle. As a motorcyclist, we have spacing and visibility strategies we are constantly working with while riding. Using our hazard lights, horn, or high beams, are a big advantage to present ourselves on the road and to our environment around us.

  • Use your horn or flash your high beam and use your signal indicators to attempt to scare animals off the road.
  • Ride in the middle lane or close to the centre line when safe and when possible, to maintain distance from the ditch or shoulder.
  • Use the high beams of the vehicle in front of you to extend your sight distance. And whenever feasible and safe, maintain a distance behind another vehicle (four-wheel vehicle, truck, etc.) to utilise their presence as an added layer of impact protection.
How To Avoid Wildlife Collisions - Essential Tips for Every Motorcycle Rider - MOTORESS
If you see an animal on the road, reduce your speed immediately and if needed, apply braking.

What To Do If You See An Animal On The Road

Although preserving an animal’s life is an ideal outcome –  your primary concern is to protect your life and that of your passenger.

  • If you see an animal on the road, reduce your speed immediately and if needed, apply braking. Animals can react unpredictably, even bizarrely, when their “fight or flight” instinct is triggered.  An animal standing calmly by the side of the road may jump in front of your motorcycle; once it’s crossed the road, it may turn around and cross back in front of you. Animals also often travel in groups so if one animal crosses in front of you, more may be coming.
  • If you see deer, watch for the herd. One deer standing in the middle of the road, means there’s likely more to follow. Slow down immediately and look off to the side. If there are more deer present, stop and let them pass safely.
  • Should you encounter a fast-moving small animal on the road, or runs into the road unexpectedly, do not swerve into oncoming traffic. Turning your handlebars, push-steering might be your first impulse. This action, depending on the level of traffic, increases the risk for a head-to-head collision or for your own motorcycle to lose control. You might be able to swerve within your lane but this depends on the type of road you’re on.
  • Watch it when performing a quick stop suddenly. This can take other drivers off guard and increase the chances of a vehicle hitting you from behind. Slow down if you can but be aware of traffic behind you and don’t unexpectedly stop in an otherwise flowing traffic area.
  • Is it ever okay to try to avoid the animal? If you are approaching a slow-moving animal – like a turtle – and you are on a quiet road with low traffic – you can signal, slowly pull over to the side, and stop safely. If you have hazard lights on your bike, put these on and leave them on.  Once stopped, wait patiently for the animal to cross; do not attempt to enter the road, especially in rural areas with high-speed limits or in low lighting conditions. Always put your own safety first and make sure stopping is permitted and not dangerous in this area.
  • Watching for protective fencing. When fencing along the side of rural highways ends, animals are more likely to enter the road, so keep an extra sharp eye out.

What To Do If a Wildlife Collision Is Inevitable

If there’s no safe way to avoid hitting the animal you’ll have little time to make a decision. It is important to have ready and proficient “collision avoidance” solutions prepared in your skill-set – ready to employ! And if you can do the following:

  • Steer to where the animal is coming from, not where it’s going.
  • If you see a large animal on the road and it becomes clear that impact is unavoidable:
    • Try not to swerve out of your lane -within your lane is an option. Even if you cannot brake or stop in time, do not swerve into oncoming traffic.
    • Brake firmly to slow your motorcycle to minimise the impact. If you can, come to a controlled emergency stop.
    • Brake firmly and quickly. Try to strike the animal at an angle, letting up on the brake just before impact. This will allow the front of your motorcycle to rise slightly and potentially absorb the force better.
    • Aim for the flank. If you can, steer your motorcycle towards the flank of the animal to try to protect both you and the animal.
  • Keep your eyes focused to where you want your motorcycle to go, not on the animal.
  • And if managed to maintain safety for yourself, but did hit an animal you may want to check on it. If you’ve contacted wildlife services or highway assistance, it is best to stay away from it until help arrives. An injured animal can be unpredictable and that means dangerous.

With these tips, you’ll not only gain the ultimate riding advantage but also conquer the roads with confidence and safely –  through wildlife-rich terrains!

*Note: Riding a motorcycle requires training and skills. The above advice is based on a rider being proficient at operating a motorcycle. The above applies to those experienced and with an understanding of the activity. Ride you own ride and at your own skill level. Never practise manoeuvres or procedures without the supervision of an expert.


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2 comments

Adrian 16 August 2023 at 09:20

“Your tips for motorcycle riders are a must-read for anyone hitting the road. Simple and effective advice that can make a big difference – thanks for sharing!”

Reply
MOTORESS 30 August 2023 at 11:25

Thank you!! ♥♥♥

Reply

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