Slow down to avoid bison collisions on N.W.T. Hwy 3
August begins peak season for collisions with bison, says Department of Transportation
It’s peak season for collisions with bison and the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation is asking drivers to slow down on Highway 3.
Earl Blacklock, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, said 75 per cent of the territory's vehicle-bison collisions happen between mid-August and mid-December.
Speed is always a big factor, he said, especially at night if people outdrive their headlights.
"One thing that some people aren't aware of is, if you're travelling faster than the speed limit at night, you simply don't have enough time to stop in time to avoid hitting the bison," he said.
"What inevitably ends up happening is somebody realizes that and they take the ditch, which is one of the worst things you can do."
Blacklock said in the past five years, one person has died for that exact reason and about 10 others have been hospitalized due to serious injuries.
He said people also need to realize they're not only potentially hurting themselves but the bison, too.