Beautiful Fall Season Could Come with Road Debris, Increased Wildlife Sightings, AAA Warns

Fall splendor brings lovely colors and a warning from AAA to be aware of wildlife and roadside debris.

According to the Idaho Transportation Department, about 275 single-car accidents last year involved hitting a wild animal, as well as another 275 involving a collision with road debris or some other non-fixed object.

Cargo that was falling or shifting was involved in about 460 multi-vehicle crashes.

Matthew Conde, the public affairs director for AAA Idaho, said that this fall, it's important to remember that the roads are a very dynamic place to be driving.

Conditions can change abruptly or without much notice.

While attentive driving is crucial at all times, the fall is also a crucial time to be especially vigilant.

Wildlife and Debris on the Road

Accidents happen when drivers swerve to avoid hitting animals or debris, in addition to the risk of doing so.

In contrast to the 16% injury rate when the vehicle actually struck the debris, attempts to avoid it resulted in injuries 43% of the time, according to earlier AAA research.

Conde said that a third of crashes related to debris happen between 10:00 AM and 3:59 PM when many people are moving bulky items, such as pruned branches of a tree, and other landscaping supplies or heavy objects, like home furnishings or construction equipment.

Debris on the road can also be dropped at any time by a strong windstorm.

The following advice from AAA is also published by Daily Fly to assist drivers in having a fun and safe fall:

Wildlife Sightings

• Look down the road actively. During mating season, many large animals are moving down from the highlands and are most active during dawn and dusk in the fall.
• Slow down when wildlife is within sight. Deer are one of the many animals that travel in groups of two or three.
• Use high beams only when there is no oncoming traffic and maintain clean headlights.
• Consider slowing down rather than swerving when there are animals on the road. Swerving increases the risk of a rollover collision or running into oncoming traffic.
• Always buckle up in a car. It is just as dangerous to collide with a large animal as it is to run into another vehicle.
• Slowing down, moving over if necessary, or honking the horn, will frighten most wildlife away,

KTVB7 also published the information from AAA's list:

Fall Season Road Debris

• Make sure loads are always securely fastened by repeatedly pulling on the ropes and tie-downs to make sure they are tight. Put a tarp over the entire load. Unsecured loads will prompt costly penalties.
• Underinflated or badly worn tires are susceptible to blowouts that result in debris. Vehicles should be maintained and checked for loose or worn-out parts.
• Drivers should avoid tailgating. Instead, it is best to extend following distances to have time to react if there is an incident upfront.
• When deciding whether to avoid road debris, use caution. Most vehicles may be better suited for an impact thanks to their crumple zones, seat belts, airbags, and sophisticated braking systems than they are for avoiding obstacles on the road.
• It is wise to ensure there is always a way out by maintaining a safety cushion around the vehicle and driving defensively.

Conde said that although Idaho is a very lovely place right now, don't let the stunning fall foliage fool you.

Instead of being distracted from the most important task at hand, which is safely reaching the intended destination, the company advises pulling over and taking a stroll in a safe area.

According to AAA Oregon, debris-related collisions can happen anywhere, but they are four times more likely to happen on Interstates because of the higher speeds and faster reaction times.