“In autumn and winter, animals are no longer tied to a specific territory,” Māris Lielkalns, a spokesperson for the Riga National Zoo, told [eng.lsm.lv].
Shorter daylight hours and active seasonal movements increase the risk of wildlife collisions on Latvian roads during autumn and winter, Latvian Television reported on November 13. Animal activity peaks as roe deer form survival herds and red deer finish their rutting season. Road networks intersect traditional migration paths, forcing wildlife directly onto the carriageway.
Drivers must maintain vigilance because animal behaviour shifts dramatically during colder months. Scavengers such as foxes, badgers, and raccoon dogs actively search for food reserves, frequently approaching roadways to reach animal carcasses. When one roe deer crosses a road, additional members of the herd often follow immediately behind.
Safe driving expert Normunds Lagzdiņš advises motorists to use full-beam headlights for as long as possible without blinding oncoming traffic. Standard daytime running lights illuminate only 40 to 50 meters ahead in darkness. At typical highway speeds, a one-second reaction time covers 25 meters, leaving insufficient distance to avoid an unexpected obstacle.
Drivers facing a sudden animal appearance must prioritize braking over swerving to minimize impact speed. Swerving at speeds between 90 and 110 kilometers per hour frequently causes a total loss of vehicle control and dangerous skidding.
“Of course, the ideal option is to reduce speed and then swerve,” Lagzdiņš said.
Collisions with wildlife generate thousands of insurance claims annually across the country. Insurers received approximately 5,000 comprehensive insurance claims last year for animal strikes.
Jānis Abāšins, President of the Latvian Insurers’ Association, said that insurers paid out roughly 12 million euros in total compensation for these accidents.
The average compensation claim currently stands at around 2,500 euros per incident. Fatalities resulting from animal collisions remain low but volatile, with three deaths recorded so far this year compared to zero or one in previous years.