Sharing with animals — Wyoming Permit Test

Collisions with animals in Wyoming can happen any time of year but are most common in the fall and spring, while animals migrate between summer and winter habitats.

Herds cross highways in large numbers when they move between ranges, so the risk jumps in those seasons.

While such crashes can occur at any time of the year, they are most prevalent during the fall and spring, while animals are migrating between their summer and winter habitats.

Be especially alert at dusk and dawn, when animals come out to feed and your visibility is limited.

That is when deer are moving and when the light makes them hardest to see.

particularly alert at dusk and dawn,

To avoid hitting animals, use your high-beam lights as often as possible at night and be very watchful near forests and water.

High beams light up the roadside where animals stand, and forests and water are where they gather.

Using your high-beam lights as often at night as possible in order to better illuminate both the highway and the roadside;

When you see an animal on or near the road, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers, and sound your horn.

Tapping the brakes flashes your brake lights so the driver behind slows too and does not hit you.

When you see an animal on or near the roadway, reduce your speed and tap your brakes, to warn other drivers, and sound your horn.

Be careful about flashing your headlights at an animal ahead, because it may freeze the animal on the road directly in front of you.

A deer caught in the lights often stops where it is instead of running off the road.

Of course, you can brake harder if no one is behind you, but be careful about flashing your headlights because one unintended effect may be to “freeze" the deer or other animal on the road directly ahead.

If a collision with an animal seems inevitable, do not swerve suddenly; brake as quickly as you safely can and keep your vehicle under control and on the road.

Swerving can roll the car or send it into oncoming traffic, which is often worse than hitting the animal.

If a collision seems inevitable, don’t swerve suddenly to avoid the animal.

If you hit an animal, report it to local law enforcement, particularly if the carcass is still on the highway and a danger to other vehicles.

A dead animal in the lane can cause the next crash, especially at night.

If a crash occurs, report it to local law enforcement, particularly if the carcass of the struck animal is still on the highway and thus a danger to other vehicles.

During which seasons are vehicle-animal crashes most common in Wyoming?

Fall and spring. Herds cross highways in large numbers when they move between ranges, so the risk jumps in those seasons. Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, p.72: “While such crashes can occur at any time of the year, they are most prevalent during the fall and spring, while animals are migrating between their summer and winter habitats.”