September 25, 2009

Deer-Vehicle Collision Avoidance

Dawn and dusk are the times of day you are most likely to encounter deer along the roadside.  Additionally, deer breeding season runs from October through early January, and during this time they are highly active and on the move. This is when deer-vehicle collisions are at their peak.  Also, as pack animals, deer almost never travel alone. If you see one deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.  Please remember that deer are unpredictable creatures, and one that is calmly standing by the side of the road may suddenly leap into the roadway without warning.

Driving tips from State Police:

• The two most important ways to avoid a deer-vehicle collision are slow down and SLOW DOWN. If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down and observe the speed limit. The slower you are with your vehicle, the more braking distance you will have.
• Wear a seatbelt; a secondary collision is more likely going to injure you in a deer-vehicle collision.
• Watch for the reflective shine of eyes along the roadside.
• Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic to increase your visibility and give you more time to react.
• Acknowledge caution signs indicating deer or moose crossings. These signs are specifically placed by the state in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent.
• Try not to swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can confuse the deer on where to run. Swerving can also cause a head-on collision with oncoming vehicles, take you off the roadway into a tree or a ditch, and greatly increase the chances of serious injuries.  Attempt to maintain control and do your best to brake and give the deer time to get out of your way.
• If you are involved in a collision, stop your vehicle in a safe area out of the travel lane, put on your emergency flashers and call 911.  Do not try to remove the animal from the roadway especially if you are on a roadway with higher speed limits as you will be placing yourself in danger.  If you are on an Inter-State or other divided highway and near an exit, exit the highway if your vehicle is drivable and you are not injured.