DRIVERS are being urged to take care on forest roads following a dramatic rise in the number of accidents involving animals.

There were 67 accidents involving New Forest animals reported between January to June, compared to 40 in the same period in 2012, and 41 were killed or injured. This is almost double the 24 the previous year.

Some of those killed or injured are the famous New Forest ponies and cattle which are free to roam and graze.

Sue Westwood, Clerk to the Verderers, said: “So far in July we have already received reports of a further 10 accidents in which four animals have been killed and two injured.

“This must indicate either a complete lack of awareness or consideration for the Forest’s animals on the part of motorists driving through the Forest.”

Last year saw the accident and death rate involving New Forest animals reach an all-time low – 135 accidents, 18 injuries and 64 deaths.

Nigel Matthews, community and visitor services manager at the New Forest National Park Authority, said a number of initiatives are running to combat animal accidents, including reflective pony collars, changing road warning signs to keep drivers’ attention, traffic calming measures and enforcement of the 40mph speed limit.

He said: “We have been working with Hampshire Highways Authority and are pleased that new signs have been installed this week – at the two ends of the B3078 which runs across the north of the Forest.

‘This is a notorious high-risk route for animal accidents. The new signs will state the number of animals killed or injured across the whole Forest so far this year. As this number increases at perhaps the rate of two each week, we hope drivers will take extra caution.’ Residents are encouraged to check out a map of where accidents happened last year – with high risk routes among roads which many people drive on every day: newforestnpa.gov.uk/d ownloads/file/467/2012_animal_accidents_map