On Finland's roads, every year there are many collisions with different animals. Most collisions happen in Finland with white-tailed deer or roe deer. There are fewer moose collisions, but the moose is especially dangerous to people. It is much larger and taller than a deer. Therefore a moose collision can cause serious injuries inside the car.
An adult moose is a large animal that has long legs. A bull moose can weigh up to 600 kilograms and be about two metres tall. Its body can be up to three metres long. The moose's large size increases the danger of a collision for the car's passengers. Liikenneturva reminds us that a lower speed can reduce injuries in a collision.
In 2025, 13,291 game-animal accidents occurred on the roads of mainland Finland. In Finland in 2025, there were collisions with white-tailed deer a total of 6,364 times. With roe deer, there were 4,948 collisions in the same year. Moose collisions occurred in the same year a total of 1,814 times. There were therefore fewer moose collisions than deer and roe-deer collisions. In the same year, five people died and 133 were injured in animal collisions. Four of the five collisions that led to death occurred with a moose. In addition, 81 percent of all injuries occurred in moose accidents in 2025. These figures show why the moose is especially dangerous to people.
One can collide with a moose in all seasons in different parts of Finland. The risk is, however, higher than usual at twilight and in darkness. Nearly two thirds of cervid collisions happen at twilight or in darkness. Over a 24-hour period, the most collisions happen one hour after sunset. Moose also move actively during morning and evening twilight. Therefore the driver must watch the roadsides especially carefully.
In autumn, moose move a lot, so collision risk increases on the roads. Another busy period starts in May and continues into June. Then moose cows separate the previous year's calves from themselves. Young moose are not yet used to moving alone. They can come onto the road also in very unexpected places. Then there may not necessarily be a traffic sign nearby that warns about moose.
When you see a moose warning sign, reduce speed and concentrate on driving. A lower speed gives more time to see and brake. It can also reduce injuries if a collision happens. Always keep also a sufficient following distance to the car ahead. Use high beams whenever they can be used safely. Watch especially the roadsides for the whole duration of the dangerous area. If a moose runs onto the road, try to steer behind it.
If you collide with a moose, stop the car in as safe a place as possible. Turn on the hazard lights and immediately warn other traffic. First check calmly whether any of the car's passengers is injured. After that, always call the general emergency number, that is number 112. A cervid collision must be reported to the police, even if the moose continues on its way. Also tell the emergency response centre the accident location as accurately as possible during the call. Also mark accurately the place from which the animal disappeared into the forest.
A deer or roe deer comes onto the road much more often than a moose. The moose is still an especially dangerous animal on Finland's roads. It can come onto the road quickly, and one does not always notice it in time. A warning sign tells about a place where the risk is higher than usual. The best protection is a more moderate speed and careful observation. When you drive proactively, you have more time to react.
Word bank
Every word as it appears in the text, its base form, what the ending does, and the meaning.
tie · noun · adessive plural
on the roads
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kolari · noun · partitive plural
collisions
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eläin · noun · genitive plural
of animals
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vaarallinen · adjective · nominative singular
dangerous
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suuri · adjective · comparative nominative singular
larger
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vamma · noun · partitive plural
injuries
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pitkä · adjective · nominative plural
long
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painaa · verb · A-infinitive
to weigh
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matkustaja · noun · allative plural
for the passengers
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riistaonnettomuus · noun · partitive singular after a numeral
game-animal accidents
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kolaroida · verb · past indicative passive
collided / there were collisions
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loukkaantua · verb · past indicative active, 3rd person singular
was injured
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hirvieläinkolari · noun · elative plural
of cervid collisions
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auringonlasku · noun · genitive singular
of sunset
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tarkkailla · verb · A-infinitive
to watch
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kolaririski · noun · nominative singular
collision risk
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hirviemo · noun · nominative plural
moose cows
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vieroittaa · verb · present indicative active, 3rd person plural
separate / wean
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yllättävä · adjective · inessive plural
in unexpected places
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hirvivaaramerkki · noun · genitive singular; total object of näet
moose warning sign
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turvaväli · noun · nominative singular; total object in imperative
safe following distance
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kaukovalo · noun · partitive plural
high beams
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väistää · verb · A-infinitive
to avoid / steer around
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hätävilkku · noun · nominative plural; total object in imperative
hazard lights
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hätänumero · noun · illative singular
to the emergency number
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ilmoittaa · verb · A-infinitive
to report
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onnettomuuspaikka · noun · nominative singular; total object in imperative
accident location
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reagoida · verb · A-infinitive
to react
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Practice
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Comprehension quiz
Which animal has fewer collisions than white-tailed deer and roe deer, but causes serious consequences for people?
When is the risk of a cervid collision higher?
What should a driver do when seeing a moose warning sign?
After a collision with a moose, which number must be called?
Fill in the gap
Hirvikolareita on vähemmän, mutta hirvi on ihmiselle erityisen _____.
Käytä _____ aina, kun niitä voi käyttää turvallisesti.
Soita sen jälkeen aina yleiseen _____ eli numeroon 112.
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Dictation
0:004:20
The Moose Is the Most Dangerous Animal on Finland’s Roads
