Did you know that November 1-7 is National Give Wildlife a Break Week? According to Wildlife in Crisis, Inc. found at www.wildlifeincrisis.com across our nation over one million animals a day are killed or maimed on our roadways and this includes pets. The Give Wildlife a Break Week is intended to raise awareness of the problem and to provide drivers with strategies for defensive driving. It has long been accepted that defensive driving benefits both people and animals crossing the road.
The first step in defensive driving to avoid collision with animals is to be aware of your surroundings. If the road bisects the bottom of a hill or a water source such as river or lake it is likely to be an animal crossing area. If the road is lined with trees, hedges, grasses you can expect birds and small mammals and deer to be crossing the road. If you see one animal cross the road anticipate that more will follow.
Here are some specific tactics to avoid hitting animals with your vehicle:
1. If you see an animal at the side of the road slow down, beep your horn and flash your lights.
2. When driving on country roads at night use your high beam lights.
3. As you drive scan the road ahead from left to right and back again.
4. Be particularly alert at dawn and dusk.
5. October and November is deer rutting season and male deer are very vunerable.
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