The most important thing is caution and being able to brake properly

 

In recent years, more than 10,000 per year have been registered in traffic accidents in which a car collides with animals. Also, this number is rising year by year. Accidents in which wild animals are to blame can take various forms, from damage to a vehicle, injuries to people or animals, to completely fatal consequences. Although cars are becoming safer and the consequences of accidents less severe than before, experts urge drivers not to rely on the safety equipment of their vehicles and to pay maximum attention to driving.

 

According to police statistics, there were over 15,500 traffic accidents last year in which a car collided with forest animals. For comparison, in 2015 it was 6 thousand fewer accidents. According to the police, the estimated damage caused by the collision with the game in 2015 was below 300 million crowns. In 2019, it exceeded the amount of 600 million.

 

On the roads, animals are most likely to be threatened in the early morning hours before dawn, and then at dusk or dusk. The game most often moves on roads leading through the forest and along with fields.

 

Road administrators install odor fences in the most critical places, which should at least partially discourage the game from crossing the road. Fences are installed in some places, but this usually only applies to motorway-type roads. Besipu experts emphasize that by far the most effective prevention is to reduce the speed below the value allowed in the given place - especially where the road sign directly warns of the increased occurrence of the game.

 

No prevention is ever 100%, but there are ways to reduce the risk. Anticipation and reduction of speed have already been discussed. If the driver sees an obstacle at a distance of 60 m, he will not be able to stop from a speed of 90 km / h. On the other hand, at a speed of 80 km / h, the distance to a complete stop is approximately 55 m.

 

However, heavy braking, which is causing difficulties for some drivers, is proving to be a necessary condition. "Unfortunately, many drivers can't break in a panic," says Škoda Mulač, an analyst at Škoda's traffic safety team. "In a critical situation, you need to kick the brake pedal and brake with all your might until it comes to a complete stop. Pulsation in the pedal due to the action of ABS leads some drivers to subconsciously release it - and this is the biggest mistake, "explains Karel Mulač.

 

If there is no avoidance and the impending collision cannot be averted, the driver should not try to avoid the collision. The best reaction is to brake hard and hold the steering wheel in the direction of travel at the same time.

 

Modern cars have such a level of passive safety that they can handle an impact on an animal commonly found in Central Europe without any consequences for the crew. "If the driver does not dodge, he makes the collision in the safest possible way. On the contrary, the effort to avoid a collision usually ends off the road, which in the forest usually means a collision with a tree or a fall from aside. This is how the most serious accidents take place, with the most serious consequences, "adds Karel Mulač.

 

Today's passenger cars are equipped with several electronic systems, which add a significant dose of active safety to their high level of passive safety. For example, the Front Assist system warns the driver at speeds from 5 to 210 km / h of an imminent collision and, if necessary, brakes the car automatically. supports full braking. Also, this system is supplemented by an emergency brake function designed especially for city traffic at speeds from 5 to 34 km / h.

 

Adaptive headlights that optimize headlight lighting depending on road configuration and ambient conditions can also help. But paradoxically, these otherwise great helpers may not be to the benefit of drivers in these situations. The animal rarely stands in the way without movement as a solid obstacle. Much more often, he suddenly runs out of the bushes or ditch, and in that case, the assistant can't do much. Likewise, intense lighting causes the animal to get stuck in the road and stop behaving as expected. That is why Besipu experts advise the appropriate combination of high beams with dipped beams.

 

If the game is close, the driver should manually deactivate the high beams and perform any rinsing with a horn, not a flash.

 

This, of course, requires the direct involvement of the human factor, adaptive headlights cannot handle it on their own. And so it is more true here than anywhere else: to limit speed, not to rely on assistive technologies, and to be prepared for lightning-fast response.

 

If an accident occurs, it is important not to panic. The first step in such a case should be to check the health of the crew and possibly call an ambulance. If no injuries have occurred, it is the turn of the reflective vest and the marking of the accident site with a triangle. The accident must also be documented and reported to the Police of the Czech Republic. Never load a dead or injured animal in a car. Such activity, albeit in good faith, is considered poaching. It is advisable to contact the insurance company directly from the accident site.