Animal Road Safety
- Meera Naveen
- Feb 20, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 24, 2024

As you or a relative is driving a vehicle such as a car, how many times do you notice that you or your relative has to abruptly slow and stop the car from hitting a bird whooshing in at the last second or a stray deer running onto the road in fright?
How many times have you seen an animal struggling on the side of the road because a vehicle had hit them, or even worse?
Every year, millions of animals are hit by vehicles in collisions due to these factors.
And it's not entirely their fault either.
Of course, some people can hit due to less concentration and focus on their driving, but another factor, perhaps even bigger, is that many roads, highways, and other paths of transportation interfere with wildlife routes. Those animals might accidentally get into these paths and become factors in causing animal and human injuries and deaths because they were following their natural migratory pattern which was interrupted by the paths we built.
So how can we solve this problem, and help lessen animal and human deaths per year, keeping our routes and allowing wildlife to have a safer space to roam?
Many people and organizations stand up to resolve this problem. They advocate for a safer, greener and adaptable method of transportation, and some constructions, such as the Snoqualmie Pass at an interstate in Washington, are already put into place, helping animals such as elk and deer safely pass through without getting hit by a speeding vehicle.
So how can we help?
Two simple ways to help are these:
Always pay full attention while driving. This is yet another reason why we shouldn't text and drive at the same time or anything like that. An increased focus and concentration while driving can help boost the speed of your reaction to stop the vehicle when you see an animal jumping onto the road.
If you can, advocate for and spread the word to increase support in fixing our roads (especially in places full of wildlife) to become better, in a greener, safer, and adaptable way for both humans and wildlife. This includes donating to organizations funding and working for this, spreading the word through friends and family, and supporting directly yourself.
So, as you can see here, being a better driver and helping animals through road safety is a big factor in being a sustainable person and helping the Earth, keeping wildlife and people safe and healthy in a creative way.

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