With Daylight Saving Time ending early Sunday, Colorado residents will lose an hour of sunlight in the evenings, which means wildlife movement at dusk will likely conflict with high rush-hour traffic volume when people are getting off work.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado Department of Transportation remind drivers to look out for wildlife on area roads, especially during this time of the year when animals are on the move for seasonal mating and migration.
CDOT also advises drivers to be aware, drive with caution and slow down.
“It can be extremely difficult to see deer and other wildlife along the highway when it’s dark out. So we urge motorists to concentrate on the road,” said CDOT Maintenance Superintendent Greg Stacy.
Not only are wildlife-vehicle collisions dangerous, but the crashes typically result in property damage of more than $3,000, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.
CDOT often incorporates wildlife-mitigation features during highway projects, including animal underpasses, overpasses, deer fencing and other structures that can funnel and direct large game and smaller wildlife to cross from one side of the highway to the other in a safe manner.
CDOT recommends that drivers:
Slow down. Traveling at high speeds increases the danger of a crash. Moderate speeds maintain a driver’s reaction time and allow an appropriate response to animals on or near roads.Stay alert. Pay close attention to the road, particularly while driving between dusk and dawn. This is when deer and other common wildlife are most active and more likely to be crossing roads.Scan ahead. Watch for movement and shining eyes along roadsides. If you see one animal, you should expect it will be accompanied by others.Obey traffic signs. Many highways have wildlife warning signs intended to alert drivers of known wildlife movement areas. Though incidents can happen anywhere, transportation authorities attempt to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions by posting signs and lowering speeds in areas where wildlife are active.Give warning. When animals are seen on or near the road, slow down or stop (if no other cars are behind you), honk the horn and/or flash headlights. This warns the animal to avoid the road and alerts other drivers to the potential hazard.Always wear seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the risk of serious injury and death in a crash is reduced by half when seat belts are worn.Drivers involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision should report the accident to the Colorado State Patrol by calling *CSP (star key and 277).
