Tips
for Driving in Deer Country
Vehicles kill
hundreds of deer each year in Washington. Deer will cross roads
at any time of the day or night, creating a hazard for the vehicles,
passengers, and deer.
More than half
of all deer/vehicle collisions occur in October and November. The
rut (mating season) and peak days for hunting may account for this.
Here are
driving tips to help prevent collisions:
- Deer are
most active at dawn and dusk. Be especially watchful during these
times.
- One deer
crossing the road may be a sign that more deer are about to cross.
Watch for other deer—they will move fast to catch up with
leaders, mothers, or mates and may not pay attention to traffic.
- When you
see brake lights, it could be because the driver ahead of you
has spotted a deer. Stay alert as you drive by the spot, as more
deer could try to cross.
- Wonder why
the person ahead is driving so slowly? The driver may know where
to slow down and be extra alert for deer. Don’t be too quick
to pass, and watch out.
- Take note
of deer-crossing signs and drive accordingly. They were put there
for a reason.
- Try to drive
more slowly at night, giving yourself time to see a deer with
your headlights. Lowering the brightness of your dashboard lights
slightly will make it easier to see deer.
- Be especially
watchful when traveling near steep roadside banks. Deer will pop
onto the roadway with little or no warning.
- Be aware
that headlights confuse deer and may cause them to move erratically
or stop. Young animals in particular do not recognize that vehicles
are a threat.
- Deer hooves
slip on pavement and a deer may fall in front of your vehicle
just when you think it is jumping away.
- Deer whistles,
small devices that can be mounted on your vehicle, emit a shrill
sound that supposedly alerts deer nearby. (Humans cannot hear
the sound.) How well the devices work is not scientifically known.
If a collision
with a deer seems imminent, take your foot off the accelerator and
brake lightly. But—and this is critical—keep a firm
hold on the steering wheel while keeping the vehicle straight. Do
not swerve in an attempt to miss the deer. Insurance adjusters claim
that more car damage and personal injury is caused when drivers
attempt to avoid collision with a deer and instead collide with
guardrails or roll down grades.
If you accidentally
hit and kill a deer, try to move the animal off the road—providing
you can do so in complete safety. Otherwise, report the location
of the deer’s body to the city, county, or state highway department
with jurisdiction for the road. If no action is taken, contact the
non-emergency number of the local police department, and the agency
will arrange for the body to be removed. This will prevent scavengers
from being attracted onto the road, and eliminate a potential traffic
hazard.
If the deer
is wounded, call the non-emergency number of the local police department
and describe the animal’s location. Emphasize that the injured
deer is a traffic hazard to help ensure that someone will come quickly. |
