Watch Out for Moose

We would like to emphasize several key factors for the traveling public to keep in mind:

-A road sign like "Caution, moose next 11 kilometers" means moose cross there frequently.
-the likelihood of injury is twice as high between dusk and dawn as compared to daytime;
-the risk of injury is higher for vehicles traveling at highway speeds, so please keep to speed limits;
-having passengers in the vehicle doubles the risk of injury due to driver inattentiveness. Have passengers watch for moose too;
-please remember, seatbelts are mandatory. Vehicle occupants who do not wear their seatbelts are eight times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a moose-vehicle collision.

MOOSES ARE UNPREDICTABLE
The average life span of a moose is approximately 12 years. There are about 125,000 moose on the island of Newfoundland, and most highways go through good moose habitat.

Moose are great to look at - from a distance. If you see one on or near a highway, slow down immediately and prepare to stop. Like all wild animals, moose are unpredictable.

Be sure the moose has either crossed the highway or gone back into the forest before resuming your drive.

USE EXTRA CAUTION DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING
If you see a vehicle stopped on or near the highway, the driver may have spotted a moose, so be cautious. Avoid driving at night if possible, and if you must drive, slow down. Moose are extremely difficult to see at night. Scan both sides of the highway with your lights on high beam unless overtaking other traffic, and pay attention to warning signs.

� RCMP/GRC 2002