Wildlife — North Carolina Permit Test

Slowing down gives you and the animal time to react; a deer hit at 35 mph has a much lower fatality rate than one hit at 55 mph or more, and so does the driver.

The deer is going to step out either way. Speed decides whether you stop short of it or go through it.

SLOW DOWN – Reduced speeds give both you and the animal more time to react and better chances for survival.

Wildlife is most active at dawn, dusk and the first few hours after dark, and during the spring and fall migrations.

Deer move at the edges of the day, which is also when they are hardest to see. Those hours deserve a slower speed.

however, they are most active at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after dark.

Use high beams only when there is no oncoming traffic and no animal directly ahead, because high beams can confuse or freeze some animals.

The famous deer in the headlights is a deer that cannot move. Dimming the lights gives it back its legs.

HIGH BEAMS – Only use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic and no animals directly ahead. High beams can confuse or “freeze” some animals – hence the familiar “deer in headlights” behavior.

If you see one deer, expect more: deer, elk and wild boars travel in groups and often move one right behind the other.

The deer you missed is rarely alone. The one behind it is the one that hits the car.

EXPECT MORE THAN ONE ANIMAL – Many species (e.g., deer, elk, wild boars) travel in groups or family units, and the animals often move one right behind the other.

If you see wildlife on the road, brake firmly, stay in your lane and try to stop in time; you can honk the horn briefly.

Swerving around a deer puts you into a tree or an oncoming car. Hitting the deer is the safer outcome of the two.

Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and try to stop in time.

If you hit an animal, pull safely off the road, stay in the car with the doors locked and hazard lights on, do not approach the animal, and report the incident to NCDOT.

An injured deer can kick hard enough to kill. The car is the safe place, and the report brings someone who knows what to do.

Pull off to the side of the road safely. Stay in your car, lock your doors, and turn on hazard lights.

Litter attracts wildlife to the road edge and raises the risk of a wildlife-vehicle collision; yellow wildlife crossing signs mark known hot spots.

A tossed apple core is a meal at the roadside. The animal that comes for it is the one that steps out next.

DON’T LITTER! Trash may attract wildlife and bring them closer to road edges, increasing the risk of a wildlife-vehicle collision.

Why does the handbook tell drivers to slow down where wildlife is likely?

Slower speed gives both you and the animal time to react. The deer is going to step out either way. Speed decides whether you stop short of it or go through it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.74: “SLOW DOWN – Reduced speeds give both you and the animal more time to react and better chances for survival.”