B.C. drivers urged to watch for wildlife on roads – the cause of 11,500 crashes per year

A deer runs across the road in this file image. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

With the weather warming up, more B.C. residents are leaving town to enjoy the Great Outdoors – and they’re not the only ones crowding mountain roads.

The province enters “peak” season for deer crossings this month, according to a warning from Road Safety at Work, an injury-reduction initiative of WorkSafeBC.

Program director Trace Acres urged drivers to stay alert on the highways, particularly in areas with high levels of wildlife activity.

“Animals don’t follow traffic rules,” said Acres, in a statement. “Even a small dear can cause a serious crash, and it often happens before the driver has time to react.”

According to ICBC statistics, an average of 11,503 crashes involving wildlife were reported annually between 2019 and 2023 – leaving an average of 989 people injured per year.

There were 12,825 wildlife crashes across the province in 2023, the last year for which data is available, and 1,070 people were injured.

Road Safety at Work said animals become more active over the spring and summer, with movement patterns shifting during feeding and mating cycles – sometimes bringing them closer to roads.

In a news release, the initiative said high-risk areas include “highways and roads that link rural and suburban areas, especially near green belts, parks, fields, golf courses or other natural feeding areas.”

After deer activity peaks in May, moose crossings spike in June and July. Crashes are said to be more common at dawn and dusk – from around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., then 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Acres said the best way for drivers to protect themselves and their passengers is to “stay alert, slow down, and be prepared for the unexpected.”

Drivers should also watch for animal crossing signs, scan roadsides for movement, and slow down after spotting animals nearby – it could mean there are others in the area.

If they see an animal on the road they should avoid swerving around the creature, as it “can lead to more serious crashes,” Road Safety at Work said.