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Ministry of Transportation

Watch For Wildlife When You're Behind The Wheel


    McGuinty Government Urges Drivers To Stay Safe

    TORONTO, Oct. 9 /CNW/ -

    NEWS

    Fall brings beautiful autumn colours and more wildlife onto Ontario's
roads - and a need for drivers to be extra vigilant.
    On average there are 14,000 vehicle/wildlife collisions in Ontario per
year - that's one every 37 minutes. Eighty-three per cent of these collisions
happen on two-lane roads outside of urban areas. Most wildlife collisions
occur during dusk or dawn, with 87 per cent occurring in good weather.
    Being aware and taking precautions can reduce collisions, save lives and
protect wild animals:

    <<
    -   Scan the road ahead from shoulder to shoulder. If there is wildlife
        beside the road, slow down and pass carefully.

    -   Watch for the yellow wildlife warning signs that indicate areas of
        increased risk. Slow down when travelling through these areas.

    -   Use high beams at night where possible and watch for glowing eyes of
        animals.

    -   Stop as safely as possible if a wild animal is crossing the road.
        Remember, if one animal crosses the road, others may follow.

    -   Never swerve suddenly. This could cause your vehicle to go out of
        control and result in a more serious collision.
    >>

    QUOTES

    "Wild animals are unpredictable and if we can reduce collisions by simply
exercising greater caution, more people will get home to their families
without incident," said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.htm).
    "This is a real issue for the OPP," Commissioner Julian Fantino
(http://www.opp.ca/Organization/Commissioner/index.htm) said. "The Elgin OPP
detachment, for example, investigated 280 deer/vehicle collisions in 2007.
This year there have been 140 deer/vehicle collisions and we're just
approaching the peak season where deer and other animals wander onto roads."

    <<
    QUICK FACTS

    -   Peak times for wildlife collisions are during the fall mating and
        migration seasons, and in the spring when animals seek road salt in
        ditches and try to escape biting insects.

    -   The Province of Ontario has taken a number of steps
        (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/wildlife.htm) to help keep
        animals from wandering onto the road, including fence installation
        along major highways.
    >>

    LEARN MORE

    Read more facts and tips on avoiding wildlife collisions on MTO's Watch
for Wildlife (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/wildlife.htm) webpage.

    Visit great Ontario travel destinations (http://www.ontariotravel.net/).

    Get up-to-date road condition information
(http://www.roadinfo.mto.gov.on.ca/) on major highways in the area. You can
also call the ministry's road information line at 416-235-4686, or toll-free
at 1-800-268-4686.

    <<
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For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416)
327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158

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