deer

During summer, make sure to be aware of deer that may be in the ditch or dart across the road. During the evening and early morning hours, there will be an increased amount of deer that are active. On average, over 4 billion dollars a year is spent on deer-vehicle collisions. With an estimated 1.2 million crashes reported, make sure to drive with attention to the road. Hitting them is not only dangerous, but it can be expensive as well.

Deer crossing the Road

Driving slower around areas that are wooded will help reduce the chance of hitting a deer as well. Woods and trees close to the road can mean they jump out from them in a split second. When deer are in the field, you have more time and space to react incase they run toward the road. A reduced driving speed will help if you have to slam on the brakes quickly. There also might be crossing signs to alert drivers that it is common for them to cross the road in that area. Make sure to scan the ditch from time to time when driving so you can see anything that might jump on the road.

 

Remember if a deer does run onto the road, not to swerve or change lanes suddenly. This is extremely dangerous as it increases the chance of hitting a vehicle in that lane. If you hit the deer head on, it is less damage than hitting a vehicle. If you start to see vehicles putting on their brake lights ahead of you, be alert and slow down. This could be for slower traffic, something in the road, or it could be an indication that they are running across the road. This alerts you and gives you time to slow down and be on the lookout for deer. Also remember if you see one, chances are that there are more.