As the clocks go back, the risk of driving into a wild animal goes up

BERLIN: When the clocks go back after summer time, the chances of hitting a wild animal with your car increase, especially if you're commuting around dusk or dawn.

Road authorities have long tracked a sharp spike in accidents that occur around this time of year in places where summer time is ending.

In northern hemisphere countries currently in summer time, when daylight savings ends in countries around the world in October and November, dusk in many places suddenly coincides with rush hour.

Given that many wild animals are particularly active at that time of day, the potential for collisions increases. At the same time, many drivers will suffer from fatigue and reduced concentration as their body adjusts to a new sleeping schedule.

In Europe, the period between 6 am and 9 am in autumn is particularly prone to accidents and most accidents involving game are reported on rural roads, according to the German Hunting Association.

Experts advise taking your foot off the accelerator, keeping an eye on the roadside and always being ready to brake.

According to the ADAC, Europe's largest motoring association, the likelihood of deer crossing is particularly high on routes through the forest or along the edges of wooded areas and fields. Warning signs often alert you to such areas.

For many wild animals, autumn marks the time of year when the young born in spring go on their own migration, the experts from NABU explain. It is also an important time of year to search for food before winter.

While accidents involving deer are particularly common in parts of Europe, smaller animals such as hares and martens are also known to cross roads at dusk or dawn, as well as wild boar and moose.

Large animals can be particularly dangerous, as the upper body can be catapulted onto the bonnet or windscreen.

Driving at 80kph instead of 100kph reduces the braking distance by almost 25 metres.

You may manage to come to a halt in time, but even if you reduce the speed of impact, you may be saving lives.

Not only are wild animals in danger, drivers and passengers can also suffer serious or even fatal injuries during a collision with a wild animal at speed.