As the autumn hunting season, the elk’s mating season and their migration to winter pastures begin, this will yet again result in unwanted elk encounters on our roads. Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre reminds drivers to maintain their vigilance, especially in morning and evening traffic and elk hazard areas: Drivers should maintain moderate driving speeds and long safety distances and keep their eyes on the road.
Last year, a total of 1,656 elk collisions occurred in Finland, which is almost 10 per cent more than during either of the two previous years. Elk collisions usually occur at dawn and dusk, when elks move about more boldly and visibility is poor for drivers.
“Drivers should be particularly vigilant now as elks are currently on the move in large numbers. The elk warning signs along roads indicate the places where the risk of encountering elks is greatest, but it is worth remembering that drivers may also encounter animals on other road sections. Also, in areas where a game fence starts or ends, it is particularly important to adapt driving speed and be prepared to stop at short notice,” reminds Eero Sauramäki, Head of Unit at the Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre.
The correct situational speed and sufficient safety distances help a driver to react to unexpected situations and prevent rear-ending if a driver is forced to brake suddenly due to an elk.
“A situation when a driver must hit their brakes hard is always surprising, and in this situation, every decision a driver makes will influence the outcome. The right situational speed and sufficient safety distances give us valuable additional seconds. It is also important to pay attention to your alertness when evenings begin to grow dark. It is better to take a break, stretch your legs and breathe some fresh air for a moment rather than to keep driving while tired. Foresight, efficient use of high beams, and keeping an eye on the shoulder of the road are now important,” Sauramäki continues.
If an elk runs in front of your vehicle, try to stay in your own lane and steer to the rear of the animal to avoid a collision. If you hit an animal, warn other traffic by placing the warning triangle in a visible location further from your vehicle and call the emergency number 112 even if the animal escapes.
Did you know this about the number of elk collisions?
In 2024, the greatest number of elk collisions took place in Northern Ostrobothnia (163), Uusimaa (153), and Central Finland (137).
Elk collisions by region 2024:
| MK17 Northern Ostrobothnia | 163 | MK19 Lapland | 99 | |
| MK01 Uusimaa | 153 | MK10 South Savo | 85 | |
| MK13 Central Finland | 137 | MK04 Satakunta | 75 | |
| MK15 Ostrobothnia | 114 | MK09 South Karelia | 53 | |
| MK11 North Savo | 114 | MK08 Kymenlaakso | 52 | |
| MK12 North Karelia | 114 | MK18 Kainuu | 48 | |
| MK06 Pirkanmaa | 113 | MK05 Tavastia Proper | 46 | |
| MK14 Southern Ostrobothnia | 113 | MK07 Päijät-Häme | 43 | |
| MK02 Southwest Finland | 101 | MK16 Central Ostrobothnia | 33 |
Over the past two years, the greatest number of elk collisions have occurred in the autumn: A total of 596 elk collisions occurred in September-November 2023. In 2024, this figure was 699 during the same autumn months. The lowest number of collisions occurred in March, when only twenty elk-related accidents took place each year. Source: Statistics Finland
