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According to the insurance company, the number of collisions with wild animals in November, compared to October, more than doubled. Last month, insurers recorded around 40 wildlife-related accidents. 60 thousand people were compensated for the damages caused to the drivers. euros. The average loss from such disasters is 1.5 thousand. euros.
“Drivers suffer the most after a collision with a moose. They usually damage the entire front of the car, and a hit to this animal is equivalent to a collision with a heavy vehicle. No driver would want a wild animal to get caught. get in your way, but we record 1-3 prohibited incidents every day when vehicles, and sometimes people on the road, are in such collisions. In case of accident, it is necessary to inform the police, who will not only record the accident traffic, but will also help to care for the injured or dead animal, ”says Viktorija Katilienė, Head of the Claims Department of the Insurance Company for the Baltic States.
On the way – to the feeding places
“During this period, it is not the seasonal migration, but the diurnal one of animals, when wild animals are taken from nocturnal hiding places to feed into the fields and vice versa. These trips are more common, in the morning and at night, more specifically, at dusk and during the day, so it is at this time of day that you are most likely to encounter wildlife. Drivers should pay attention to these peculiarities of wild animal behavior and be careful on the roads, “he says photographer and naturalist Marius Čepulis.
According to Čepulis, the movement of animals depends on their feeding place: if wild animals can find food behind the road, then they will travel down the road to feed.
“The rapeseed, the remaining winter crops, the field where the remains of corn and beets produced most of the wild animals. They will travel where they can find that food. In fact, often the fields where wild animals find food are right next to the road, ”says the naturalist.
According to him, not only large mammals but also small ones travel in this way: ferrets, martens, which move more actively at night.
“The hedgehogs are already asleep, but the badgers and foxes can still escape from the road. Drivers who come across these wild animals often do not even realize that they have committed an accident,” says the naturalist.
In case of contact with an animal, it is forbidden to leave the place. This is equivalent to fleeing the scene of an accident and carries a fine of between € 600 and € 850 with a possible disqualification from driving for between one and three years.
Moose Behavior: The Least Predictable
According to M. Čepulis, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that it is during this period that hunting with guards takes place, when the beasts are frightened of their usual places and are forced to travel further. The naturalist says that this factor can also contribute to more frequent collisions with wildlife on the roads of our country.
According to M. Čepulis, the number of boars in Lithuania has decreased significantly, so the number of collisions with them in recent months is much lower.
“Traffic accidents usually happen when deer hit the road, and the most serious accidents are collisions with elk. Deer and roe deer are more careful if they are not scared, these beasts often stop in front of the road and they inspect the environment, they no longer run completely blind to the driveway. Meanwhile, the moose don’t have such strong self-defense, they run to the road without looking, “says the naturalist.
He points out that drivers should know the rule: if a beast runs away, you will get more members of its tribe later. Then the beasts that run to the first animal follow it without stopping and look around.
“As soon as they see an animal, drivers should stop the car and know that one wild animal may be followed by another. If drivers see bright eyes on the road, they should immediately slow down significantly,” says M. Čepulis .
The naturalist notes that it is essential to pay attention to traffic signs that warn of wildlife.
“To reduce the consequences of collisions with wild animals, drivers in the forest area should choose insurance: 60-70 km / h. – speed. Then the probability of hitting the beast decreases significantly”, advises M. Čepulis .
According to him, it is not difficult to see animals while driving during the day, but it is much more difficult during the dark hours of the day.
“It is especially important that the car’s headlights are well lit, well adjusted. The front fog lights should be on, as they illuminate the curbs more,” says the naturalist.
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