From Goral to Cat... No Solution for 'Roadkill' Accidents? [Kim Suwan's Animal Report]

Over 50% Increase in Roadkill in 5 Years
Secondary Accident Occurs While Handling Water Deer Collision on Highway
Experts Say "Measures to Prevent Animal Entry Needed... Slowing Down Is Also Important"

Roadkill, where animals are killed in traffic accidents, is increasing rapidly every year. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the weather gets colder, so-called "roadkill" incidents, where animals are hit and killed by cars on the road, are increasing. Animals come down to nearby villages or fields in search of food and get into accidents on the roads. Roadkill is especially dangerous as it can lead to secondary traffic accidents, requiring extra caution. Experts have pointed out the urgent need for measures such as installing facilities to block animal movement related to roadkill accidents.

On pet cafes like "GangsaMo" (Gangajireul Saranghaneun Moim, meaning "A Group That Loves Dogs") and various online forums, many posts report witnessing roadkill involving animals such as dogs and cats.

One member said, "I saw a car hit a cat on the road," adding, "After hitting it, the driver didn’t even look back and just drove away. The cars following behind also passed over the injured cat without noticing it. It was so horrific."

Another member who experienced roadkill while driving on the highway wrote, "A roe deer suddenly jumped out on the highway, and I couldn’t avoid it," adding, "I was so flustered that I couldn’t even report it and just left. I’m curious about what to do in such cases."

Roadkill accidents, where animals are hit and killed or injured by cars, are increasing every year. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in July, roadkill incidents on roads last year totaled 17,502 cases, an increase of more than 50% compared to 11,633 cases in 2015.

Over the past five years (2015?2019), a total of 71,999 animals were affected by roadkill. By species, roe deer accounted for the highest number at 42,748, followed by cats (15,717), raccoons (5,617), dogs (3,737), and wild boars (387 cases).

Also, when roadkill occurs, rescue teams are dispatched to save the animals, but most animals lose their lives due to the high speed of passing vehicles.

Secondary accidents caused by drivers trying to avoid animals killed on the road, known as 'roadkill secondary accidents,' are also occurring. Photo by Yonhap News

Since wild animals suddenly appear without warning, it is practically difficult to prevent accidents. Roadkill not only threatens animals but also the safety of drivers, making related countermeasures urgent.

In fact, secondary accidents have occurred due to animals suddenly running onto the road. In September last year, a tourist bus traveling on a two-lane one-way road near Sugok Village, Samdong-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongnam Province, collided with a roadside tree while trying to avoid hitting a cat that suddenly ran onto the road. Of the 45 passengers on the bus, 44 were taken to the hospital except for the driver. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.

There was also a tragic accident where a man in his 40s, who was cleaning up after hitting a roe deer on the highway, was struck and killed by a car following behind. The driver, Mr. A, reportedly stopped in the first lane after colliding with the roe deer, reported the incident to the police, and was standing near the vehicle when the accident occurred. Mr. A died from the accident, and three others, including the driver of the passenger car, Mr. B, were hospitalized and treated.

As roadkill accidents continue, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Environment, along with related agencies, have urged drivers to turn off high beams that block visibility and use the horn to encourage animals to leave the road when encountering wild animals on the road.

They also emphasized the importance of reporting and handling animal carcasses for the safety of following vehicles. If you hit an animal on the road, you should report it to the 120 call center, local administrative offices, or wildlife rescue centers.

Experts advise that reducing speed in areas where wild animals frequently appear or where accidents often occur helps prevent accidents.

Lee Wonbok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Federation, said, "The number of animals dying on roads is increasing every year, which is a problem," adding, "It is a big issue that animals are dying or getting injured, and secondary accidents caused by this also threaten drivers' safety." He advised, "To prevent secondary accidents, drivers should avoid sudden steering or emergency braking when spotting animals on the road. The most important thing is to drive as slowly as possible in dangerous areas."

He continued, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Environment have also established countermeasures related to roadkill. They plan to install facilities to block animals from entering roads by 2022. I hope these measures will help reduce roadkill accidents."