Watch for moose and elk on BC highways: road safety advocate

B.C. drivers should be on the lookout for moose, elk and other large animals while driving on highways this summer, according to WorkSafeBC group Road Safety at Work. Summer and fall can be the busiest times of the year for wildlife on roads, says Program Director Trace Acres.

“It’s important to be alert all year round, but particularly at this time of year,” Acres told The Goat in an interview. “Any animal that is struck at highway speeds can do a lot of damage to the vehicle, and it can potentially injure or even kill the passengers or drivers in the vehicle.

ICBC reported nearly 13,000 crashes involving animals in 2023 alone, resulting in two deaths, Acres added. About a quarter of those were in northern B.C., which saw 3,519 collisions involving animals that year, according to ICBC.

The best way to avoid animal collisions is staying alert, said Acres. That means avoiding distractions like your phone, staying within the speed limit, and generally paying attention to your surroundings, Acres added. Drivers who encounter an animal on the road should also turn on their hazard lights so oncoming drivers know there is something in the road further up, he said.

“The key is to expect the unexpected, because wildlife is terribly unpredictable,” Acres said. “You can’t really prepare yourself for it – all you can really do is put yourself in a position where you can react quickly.”