By Jim Stauffer
When
someone shares a message about safe driving, we are used to seeing them share
about wearing seat belts and avoiding distractions. In my time working for the
Kansas Turnpike Authority, our organization has shared those same messages, but
something I have experienced is the number of wildlife incidents we have on the
road.
My
job requires me to travel the Turnpike daily, and I have come across a number
of motorists who have been in accidents with wildlife. In fact, KTA’s recent
safety assessment showed 28% of single vehicle crashes are with an animal.
Deer
will always pose a threat on the roads, and drivers should be looking for them
as well. One of the strangest incidents I saw involving a deer was an accident
where the antler came through the car windshield and got lodged in the steering
wheel, disabling the vehicle. While I have encountered other drivers who have
had an incident with a deer on the road, there are many instances with other
wildlife to be aware of when on the roads.
One
memorable incident involved a mother and daughter who were traveling to Topeka
when a turkey vulture left its perch on the median wall right in front of their
vehicle. Both mother and daughter were okay after the accident, but it did
disable their vehicle. In another incident, a driver on the Turnpike had a
goose fly into their windshield. It actually crashed into the car and out the
back window.
It
also pays to be aware of wildlife after an accident. In one incident where a
driver struck a turkey on the road, the animal was just knocked out and became
aggressive when it came to. This led to the responding patrol officer needing
to put a car between the turkey and the people involved.
In
all the situations I described there was vehicle damage, but fortunately, the
drivers and passengers came out of these incidents unscathed. Wildlife can be
unpredictable, and any of these situations could have been worse in different
circumstances. I want to encourage drivers to stay aware of their surroundings,
avoid unnecessary distractions and be prepared for the unexpected.
