You know that old saying, “deer in the headlights?”
I don’t know about you, but I live in an area where there is a TON of deer. And, this is the time of year where you see them out and about a lot ‘cause their breeding season is in full swing.
You also see a lot of dead ones, hit by cars, sadly laying on the side of the road.
Horrible. Sends a chill down my spine every single time.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, “There are more deer-vehicle collisions as it gets dark earlier and as deer start to move a little more differently than normal during mating season.
“‘That makes deer a lot less cautious,’ said Staci Lehman. ‘They’ve got one thing on their mind, and they’re not looking out for cars and things like that.’
“State wildlife officials are asking that you slow down, don’t drive distracted, use your high beams when you can, and brake a little longer if you see just one deer, since often more deer will follow.
“‘Just because one deer runs across and you think, ‘Wow, I missed that.’ It’s a good idea to either slow down and stop and wait to see if more will pass,’ Lehman said.”
If you are driving on a less traveled roadway, be hyper-aware of them running out in front of you. In addition to not killing the deer, it is also a bonus to not wreck your car.
According to Jen Stockburger of Consumer Reports, “Deer are most active at dawn and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., so use your high beams.”
Consumer Reports lists these tips to avoid hitting a deer (be sure to click the link because the details for each bullet are very helpful):
- Slow down.
- Be aware.
- Be alert.
- Brake, don’t swerve.
- Assume they have friends.
- Don’t rely on deer whistles.
- Buckle up.
- If you hit an animal, move your car safely off the road and call the police or animal control. Don’t attempt to touch an injured animal. Photograph the scene, then call your insurance company when you get home. Damage from animal collisions is usually covered by auto insurance policies.
State Farm says these are the top states for deer collisions:
West Virginia
Montana
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Iowa
Wyoming
Wisconsin
Michigan
Mississippi
Minnesota
So, if you live in one of these places, watch out! And even if you don’t, it doesn’t mean that you don’t face the possibility of colliding with a deer on a dark road. Many other states are high risk for having an insurance claim involving a deer. #truth
Resources:
Body shop experiences uptick in deer-vehicle crashes
Washington Officials Warn Of Increased Vehicle Collisions During Mating Season
Consumer Reports: How to Avoid Collisions With Deer This Fall
I don’t live in one of those top-10 states, but there have been multiple deer hit by cars and killed on the street I live on. I even witnessed a car crash into a deer in front of my house once. (The deer lived.) And there are certain times of year where I watch families of deer cross the road on a daily basis.
I have called my town and inquired about a “Watch for Deer” sign to be put up on my road. I was told that there haven’t been enough *reported* deer deaths on my road to warrant one. (Apparently it needs to be a good number before they put up a sign.)
So always be cautious and on the lookout! (And report any dead deer you see to the city/county.)
In addition to killing the deer never underestimate the damage that can occur to your vehicle and danger to those in the vehicle. My dads SUV was totaled in Utah as a deer jumped into the road from a ditch and collided. Thankfully everyone was ok except the deer 🙁
I’ve unfortunately hit one, besides it being scary and dangerous it’s also quite sad. It was around that 8-9pm time frame and it just came out of nowhere. I’ve driven on that road hundreds of times and while I wasn’t necessarily distracted by something, it’s just one of those roads that you drive without really thinking. I now HATE driving on that road now as a result, it’s a 50 mph road and I always drive it slow at night. Too many quick & blind turns. Be safe everyone!
I live in the suburb of Towson…where there are many deer. It’s a good reminder that this is the time of year to be extra careful. The deer are out and about.