ACV warns of increased danger — Extremnews — The slightly different news

High risk for humans and animals

Accidents involving wildlife not only pose a threat to the animals, but are also dangerous for drivers. According to the German Hunting Association (DJV), around 3,000 people are injured in accidents involving wildlife every year. In 2022, German motor vehicle insurers recorded around 265,000 accidents involving wildlife, resulting in damages amounting to more than 950 million euros.

In order to raise awareness of the dangers, the ACV Automobil-Club Verkehr launched the campaign “Animals don’t know the traffic rules”. The campaign includes an impressive calculation that illustrates the severity of a collision between a car and a wild animal: the impact of a red deer at 60 km/h has the force of five tons – comparable to the weight of a fully grown elephant. This shows how serious the consequences of a collision can be.

Tips for avoiding wildlife accidents

The ACV makes the following recommendations to avoid accidents involving wildlife:

• Alertness at dusk and in poor visibility: The risk of encountering wild animals is particularly high between 6 and 8 a.m. and between 5 and 8 p.m. Increased caution is also required at night or in fog.




• Detect interference zones: Particularly confusing forest areas and field edges are dangerous sections.




• Be careful on new roads: Roads that lead through previously untouched forest areas pose an increased risk because animals prefer to use their usual routes.




• Adjust speed: In danger zones, speed should be reduced to allow for longer reaction times and shorter braking distances.




• Correct behavior towards animals on the side of the road: Reduce your speed significantly and switch off your high beams to avoid blinding the animals. If the animal enters the road, honk and continue to slow down.




• Expect more animals: Wild animals often travel in groups. If one animal is spotted, you should expect others to follow.

Important: Never swerve abruptly or change lanes to avoid an animal. This can cause more serious accidents, especially if there is oncoming traffic.

Behavior in the event of a wildlife accident

Should a collision nevertheless occur, prudent action is crucial:

• Keep Calm: Turn on the hazard lights to warn following vehicles.




• Secure the accident site: Put on the safety vest and set up the warning triangle.




• Provide help: In case of personal injury, provide first aid and call emergency services on 112.




• Be aware of the risk of infection: Do not touch dead animals without gloves and keep your distance from live animals.




• Notify police or hunters: Every accident involving wildlife should be reported, even if no visible damage has occurred or the animal has run away.

The police or a hunter can issue a wildlife accident certificate for the insurance company. Damage to the vehicle caused by typical wild animals is usually covered by comprehensive insurance.

Source: ACV Automobil-Club Verkehr (ots)