A suggestion for the RSPCA

[carnyx]

I expect everybody is distressed to see 'roadkill' .. yet it seems rare for a driver to experience it, and even rarer to see it actually happen.

Over the years I have seen two instances with cars, both in very poor light, where the animal seemed to launch itself at the part of the car immediately aft of the headlights ..... and was caught by the rear wheels. It seems as if the animal thought that the vehicle was far shorter that it actually was.

Could it be that roadkill is a night-time thing? And so, improvements in vehicle lighting might reduce the incidence?

Maybe if cars had 'running lights' along their sides, like trucks, so that an animal can perceive the length of the vehicle?

I could see a very interesting large-scale research project, involving the public. So here is a possible research idea that the RSPCA might like to consider funding.

Anyway; would posters care to comment?

[rsmith7]

Roadkill is usually front wheel action. Confused by the lights, they launch themselves in any direction.
Pheasant is usually edible unless run-over but I prefer Roe Deer - more bang for your buck

[carnyx]

rsmith7

Roadkill is usually front wheel action.

For such a definite statement you must have special knowledge. Any references?

I mean, if that were to be so, then most drivers would usually see the animal before they hit it.

Confused by the lights, they launch themselves in any direction.

If that were so, then everybody would have see animals fleeing in all directions, every time they drive by them, surely?

AFAIK roadkill is an animal that was trying to cross the road. As I understand relatively few drivers see a direct collision with an animal, versus the amount of carcases there are on roads, it cannot be animals 'jaywalking', can it?

[rsmith7]

Relatively few drivers see a direct collision???
Don't think so - I've seen everything I've run over - up to and including kangaroos.

[carnyx]

rsmith7.

But what about the ones you didn't see?

[rsmith7]

They missed??

[carnyx]

From your experience, can you think of anything that would have helped them avoid you .. ?

( ... as you clearly failed to avoid them ... )

[abacus9900]

Oct 24, 2010 19:07:25 GMT 1 carnyx said:

I expect everybody is distressed to see 'roadkill' .. yet it seems rare for a driver to experience it, and even rarer to see it actually happen.

Over the years I have seen two instances with cars, both in very poor light, where the animal seemed to launch itself at the part of the car immediately aft of the headlights ..... and was caught by the rear wheels. It seems as if the animal thought that the vehicle was far shorter that it actually was.

Could it be that roadkill is a night-time thing? And so, improvements in vehicle lighting might reduce the incidence?

Maybe if cars had 'running lights' along their sides, like trucks, so that an animal can perceive the length of the vehicle?

I could see a very interesting large-scale research project, involving the public. So here is a possible research idea that the RSPCA might like to consider funding.

Anyway; would posters care to comment?

I don't think most normal people like the idea of accidentally killing animals on the road but it's difficult to know what to suggest to reduce it. It often happens so quickly and unexpectedly that it seems unavoidable. I suppose the basic problem is that it is a case of humans and animals sharing the same territory and so something has to give!

[carnyx]

Abacus,

Yes, it is difficult to know what to do to reduce roadkill .... which why I suggest that the RSPCA
fund a research project ....

( maybe they could employ STA to ask the animals .... but would she understand their responses?)