THERE is no room for complacency when it comes to animal-related deaths on New Forest roads.

That is the message from the New Forest National Park Authority which continues to look at various measures on how fewer animals could be killed in road crashes.

It comes after a campaign was launched by the New Forest Roads Campaign which has begun a petition - signed by nearly 3,000 people - to introduce speed reducing measures across the Forest where crashes are most prominent.

Nigel Matthews, the New Forest National Park Authority’s head of recreation and learning, said: “Speed is a factor in animal accidents but it is also important to remember that it is possible to kill an animal at 40mph, and indeed that at night when visibility is poor, it is best to drive at less than the permitted speed limit. We should all drive according to the conditions rather than the speed limit – if you wouldn’t be able to stop if an animal beside the road steps out at the last moment, you are driving too fast. If everyone always drove with this mind-set, there would be far fewer incidents.

“There are many ways we work with local organisations to reduce the number of accidents. This year, Hampshire County Council is going to improve road warning signage around Brockenhurst and Sway where there are some particularly high risk roads. The new signs will include some that have changing slogans which help catch the eye of people who drive along the same roads each day. We’re also supporting the commoners’ Shared Forest project to help local employers encourage their employees to drive more carefully. This is in addition to ongoing initiatives that include a mobile safety camera van, changing signs and educational campaigns.

“These measures have helped reduce the percentage of animals dying on forest roads to historically low levels, but there is no room for complacency. So we will continue to work tirelessly with commoners and local organisations to reduce the number of deaths still further.”

A proposal to implement fencing on some of the busier roads - put forward by cllr Ken Thornber - has been rejected by animal owners and campaigners, arguing it would destroy the Forest’s character and interfere with stock movement.

Bruce Rothnie, deputy surveyor for the Forestry Commission, said: “Currently there isn’t strong support to fence off large areas of forest roads as the open nature of the area is part of its unique character. Fencing the roads would have a significant adverse effect on the unique heritage of the New Forest and restrict the free movement of forest livestock. The constant grazing and free movement of livestock is vital to the Forest and helps to preserve many important species of plants that thrive here.”

In 2016 a total of 63 animals were either killed or destroyed as a result of road accidents and 35 were injured.

There were a total of 146 accidents in that year - 17 of which were hit-and-run incidents.

Fifty-five animals were killed in total in 2015 and 21 animals injured. In 2014 68 animals were killed and 23 injured.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “Over the years a number of measures have been put in place, such as a reduced 40mph speed limit, 30mph speed limits through villages, public awareness campaigns, police enforcement, larger warning signs and carriageway edge lines. “Our data shows that, since 1985, the number of animal accidents are steadily decreasing, but I would urge all drivers, wherever they are, to be mindful of their surroundings and drive accordingly to keep the roads as safe as possible at all times. Collectively, we will use the evidence we have to focus on areas where we are confident that any additional measures will make a difference.”