Park City-area drivers who have lived locally for even a small amount of time should by now be well aware of the four-legged dangers on roads.
Wildlife collisions have been a problem for decades. As Park City grew, it was necessary to expand the road network in the area, whether it was improvements to the busy S.R. 224 corridor or the construction of small streets in quiet, far-flung neighborhoods.
The growth, of course, occurred on land rich with wildlife. Deer, elk, moose and other species remain in the Park City-area, creating the risk of collisions across the community. The accidents are sometimes devastating to the people involved but almost always devastating to the animals. Park City Police Department reports since early October highlight the concern, as the agency was told of several cases involving collisions with deer.
The recent cases are a reminder to drivers that their full attention to the road is needed. The Utah Department of Transportation has taken steps to attempt to reduce the collisions, notably dropping the speed limit on S.R. 224, but it is drivers who are behind the wheel, not any state or local government.
We are entering a particularly dicey time of year. Daylight hours are shortening, meaning it is more difficult for a driver to see an animal. And the snow will soon fall, bringing the wildlife to lower elevations as they search for ground for foraging. The lower elevations are where the busiest roads are located.
People who live in the Park City area seem to genuinely care about wildlife in the community. There is support for the wildlife overpass on Interstate 80 near Parleys Summit, something designed to reduce collisions on the highway, and the sight of a carcass along the side of a road, as has been seen recently, is abhorrent to many.
Eliminating the collisions is virtually an impossibility, even with today’s automotive technology, but taking steps to avoid them is an attainable goal. Simple acts on the part of a driver, like removing distractions, can reduce the chances of a collision. The four-legged residents of the Park City area will thank you.