New campaign to warn drivers of wildlife accidents
In purely mathematical terms, there are around 44 unpleasant encounters between wild animals and cars on a Hessian country road every day. 26 stretches of road are considered to be particular hotspots for wildlife accidents. With a poster campaign at 71 locations in the area, the Hessian Ministry of the Environment and the Hessian Hunting Association now want to sensitize drivers to the dangers, as they announced on Tuesday.
The posters show, among other things, a deer standing in the middle of a road and looking towards the driver - with the words "Prevent wildlife accidents" above it. An internet portal with further information has also been set up, which can be accessed at www.wildunfall-verhindern.de.
The seven police headquarters in Hesse have each named three areas where wildlife accidents are more frequent. For example, the North Hesse police headquarters registered 79 wildlife accidents on the B253 between Melsungen and Gensungen alone within three years.
If there is a wild animal at the side of the road, the state hunting association advises drivers to slow down in a controlled manner, turn off the lights and sound the horn. If a collision is unavoidable, drivers should not swerve riskily, but hold the steering wheel firmly and brake.
After a wildlife accident, the first thing to do is to secure the scene of the accident with hazard lights and a warning triangle and alert the police. The officers can then inform the gamekeeper or the responsible forestry officer. If the animal is injured, you should not approach it, otherwise it could panic and run away.
The high frequency of wildlife accidents on Hessian roads, particularly on the B253 between Melsungen and Gensungen, underscores the importance of traffic safety awareness when animals are present. It's crucial for drivers to reduce speed, turn off lights, and sound the horn if they encounter an animal near the road, as recommended by the Hessian Hunting Association.
Source: www.dpa.com
