Roadwise States North Carolina Driving lessons Wildlife on the road North Carolina driving lesson · Defensive Driving & Hazards
Wildlife on the road A 3-minute lesson from the North Carolina course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Defensive Driving & Hazards
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 39 Wildlife-vehicle collisions are rising as development cuts through animal corridors. Slowing down and scanning road edges, especially at dawn, dusk and after dark, protects you and the animals.
Know the rule
Slow down: a deer hit at 35 mph has a much lower fatality rate than at 55+ mph, for the driver too.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Staying safe near wildlife: Increase following distance in case the car ahead brakes hard for an animal Scan the road and edges for movement and eye shine; ask passengers to help Be especially cautious on rural, two-lane roads Watch for yellow wildlife crossing signs; they mark known hot spots Don't litter; trash attracts animals to the roadside Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
Wildlife can appear anywhere, anytime, but is most active at dawn, dusk and the first few hours after dark, and during spring and fall migrations.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
Use high beams only when there's no oncoming traffic and no animal directly ahead. High beams can "freeze" some animals.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Know the rule
Expect more than one animal: deer, elk and wild boars often travel in groups, one right behind another.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ If you see wildlife on the road: Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and try to stop in time You can try honking the horn briefly Handbook p. 39 ↗ If you hit an animal or find an injured one: Pull off safely; stay in the car, lock doors, turn on hazard lights Don't approach the animal; it may be dangerous Report it to NCDOT at 1-877-368-4968 Report it to the nearest wildlife rehabilitator Handbook p. 39 ↗ Put it into practice
At dusk a deer crosses in front of you and makes it to the woods. Keep braking and stay in your lane. Another deer, maybe a fawn following its mother, is likely right behind it.
A useful reminder See one deer? Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and expect another right behind it.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
A deer hit at 35 mph, compared to one hit at 55+ mph, has what outcome? Much lower for both deer and driver Lower for the deer only Higher for both About the same for both Answer: Much lower for both deer and driver
A deer hit at 35 mph has a much lower fatality rate than at 55+ mph — as does the driver.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Why should you increase your following distance in areas with wildlife? So animals hear your engine sooner So your headlights reach farther To stop safely if the car ahead brakes for an animal So you can pass the car ahead more easily Answer: To stop safely if the car ahead brakes for an animal
Increasing following distance leaves more time to stop safely if the car ahead brakes hard for an animal.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ When should you use high beams around potential wildlife? Always, to see animals sooner Never in rural areas Only with no oncoming traffic or animals ahead Only when an animal is directly ahead Answer: Only with no oncoming traffic or animals ahead
High beams can confuse or freeze animals, so only use them when there's no oncoming traffic or animals ahead.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ If you see one deer cross the road, what should you expect? It is likely the only animal in the area Others may be close behind it Others will cross only after dark It will turn back the way it came Answer: Others may be close behind it
Many species travel in groups, so if you see one, others may be close behind.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ What should you do if you hit an animal or find one injured on the road? Pull off, stay in the car, and don't approach it Get out and move the animal off the road Continue driving without stopping Get out and check whether it is alive Answer: Pull off, stay in the car, and don't approach it
Pull off to the side safely, stay in your car, lock your doors, and do not approach the animal.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Wildlife is most active at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after dark. True False Answer: True
Wildlife can appear anytime, but is most active at dawn, dusk, and shortly after dark.
Handbook p. 39 ↗ Previous lesson Rain, hydroplaning, flooding, fog, snow & ice Next lesson Vehicle emergencies: brakes, pedal, tires & skids More in Defensive Driving & Hazards Scanning, signaling & keeping a margin of safety 3 min Vehicle equipment: lights, brakes, tires & more 4 min Work zones, night driving & sun glare 3 min Rain, hydroplaning, flooding, fog, snow & ice 4 min Vehicle emergencies: brakes, pedal, tires & skids 3 min About the source Roadwise’s North Carolina course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 39. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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