by Lori Straus

Although the moose test sounds like something developed in Canada, the term was actually coined by a German journalist in a Swedish auto safety magazine in the 1990s. In this blog post, we’ll explain what the moose test is and what it does and doesn’t mean.

The Moose Test : A Definition

In plain language, the moose test is a collision avoidance test. It tests a car’s ability to swerve around an obstacle. The reason for the name was in part because “moose test” made a catchy headline and in part because Sweden, like Canada and other northern countries, has a moose population.

As you can well imagine, hitting a moose differs considerably from hitting a groundhog. In the former situation, you have a good chance of dying, whereas in the latter situation, you’ve created roadkill. A moose can stand at up to 6.5 feet at the shoulders and weigh about 1,800 lbs (816 kg). If a car crashes into the animal, the body will shatter and penetrate the windshield, and the antlers can bring down the roof.

Certainly a fate to be avoided.

The Prevalence of Death by Moose in Canada

The Wildlife Roadsharing Resource Centre conducted a study, sponsored by Desjardins Insurance, and analyzed data from 2000 to 2014. They found that 236 people were killed in collisions with moose in Canada during those years. By contrast, deer-vehicle collisions were responsible for the deaths of 123 people, and elk-vehicle collisions for six people. According to StatsCan, the total number of fatalities resulting from collisions from 2000 to 2014 was over 37,000. That means the total number of fatalities from collisions with large wildlife made up not quite 1% (0.98%) of all fatalities from vehicle collisions during those years.

Is a Moose Test Valid?

Whether the test is valid depends on whom you ask. A moose test doesn’t involve any actual moose, nor is the driver during the test surprised by the sudden appearance of an obstacle in their path. Instead, pylons are used to set a course the driver must follow, including when they must swerve and return to their lane of traffic. Typically, collisions occur because of a surprise element. That can include a ball rolling on to the street, a vehicle in front of you suddenly stopping, or an animal jumping out of the forest at night. And there are many options in between.

Because the moose test is planned and can be retaken as needed, it does not contain the element of surprise that affects a driver’s ability to judge in a split second the best course of action. In addition, the moose test is performed away from traffic: no oncoming traffic, barriers, or sidewalks pedestrians to avoid. Suffice it to say, the test environment is artificial.

However, that doesn’t mean the test results are meaningless. For example, several automakers have re-evaluated the design of their cars when the test repeatedly showed their car rolling over during the test. Although cars must pass stringent safety tests, car manufacturers do sometimes take this moose test seriously.

Should I Believe the Results of the Moose Test?

By all means, include the moose test for a vehicle you’re considering buying as part of your research. However, look for the full story.

For example, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Prime failed the moose test, and if you search up “moose test” in Google, you’ll see numerous headlines announcing that fact. However, in my search results, I found on page four or five a writer who dug a little deeper and discovered that Toyota took the results of the test seriously, made adjustments to the vehicle’s design, and announced that the improved vehicle would be available in January 2021. That did not make the headlines. (Disclaimer: my family runs a Toyota dealership. However, if you search “moose test” you’ll likely find the same results as I just reported here.) If a car passes the moose test, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll perform the same in real life: different driver, different circumstances, plus a surprise element. However, if it fails the moose test repeatedly, do take those results into consideration when you do your research.