In a problem not unique to Finland, it’s autumn, and a peak season for collisions between cars and deer. But Finland’s been keeping tabs, and issuing new warnings for caution.
A Finnish insurance company says the October and November period are peak months for wildlife collisions, with an average of 60 a day in November, a bit below records set in 2020. Overall, the company reports, there are about 13,000 a year.
The insurer says it paid out about €5.7 million in claims for wildlife accidents last year, averaging about €5000, mostly for front-end damage. The company also sells an add-on that covers damage from evasive maneuvers designed to avoid hitting the animal.
Autumn is the peak season because many large animals are in motion because of seasonal migration, mating and hunting activity; as well, colder weather also brings dangerous road conditions making avoidance more difficult.
