Months of October and November, increased presence of large wildlife on the roads

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility invites motorists to be vigilant when traveling, particularly at the start of autumn.

For what ?

According to SAAq data, the months of October and November constitute the period when the danger of hitting an animal is greatest due in particular to hunting and earlier nightfall.

In Quebec, between 2020 and 2022, an average of 6,952 road accidents linked to large wildlife occurred annually. Collisions involving deer (white-tailed deer) are at the top of the list, followed by accidents involving a moose, a caribou or a black bear.

Signage is already in place to inform people traveling on the road network of the presence of large wildlife (white-tailed deer, moose, bear and caribou) in the areas concerned.

In addition, anti-deer fences and wildlife crossings have been installed in various locations across Quebec.

However, the risk of collision remains significant despite these preventive measures.

Driver vigilance therefore remains the best protection against this type of accident, across the entire network.

The Ministry would like to remind you of certain safety tips:

Respect the speed limits and be extra careful during times of the day when the danger of hitting an animal is considered to be greatest, namely at dawn and dusk. Furthermore, this is even more true in autumn, when the presence of large wildlife near roads is increased.

Slow down immediately if you suspect the presence of deer near the road. Nervous and unpredictable, these animals can appear very quickly on the road.

Apply your brakes several times to alert motorists behind you of the presence of deer. Never make a sudden maneuver to try to avoid a deer at the last moment. A much more serious accident could result. In most cases, when a collision seems imminent, it is best to slow down and brake gradually.

Users can report any dangerous or unusual situation by calling 511.

With information from the SAAQ