Some facts you can take on board to help reduce risk of deer collisions
as well as advice on what to do if you do hit one.
| 1 |
 Take
note of deer warning signs. By driving with extreme caution
at or below the posted speed limit you are far less likely to
hit any animal on the road - especially deer as they can leap
out VERY unexpectedly! |
| 2 |
| Such signs really are positioned only
where deer crossings are likely. |
3 |
| Most deer related traffic collisions occur
October through December, followed by May. |
4 |
| Highest-risk periods are from sunset to
midnight followed by the hours shortly before and after sunrise.
|
5 |
| Be aware that further deer may well cross
after the ones you have noticed as they are much more likely
to roam in small groups than alone. |
6 |
| After dark, do use full-beams when there
is no opposing traffic. The headlight beam will illuminate the
eyes of deer on or near a roadway and provide greater driver
reaction time. BUT, when a deer or other animal
is noted on the road, dim your headlights as animals startled
by the beam may ‘freeze’ rather than leaving the
road. |
7 |
| Don't swerve to avoid hitting a deer. If
a collision with the animal seems inevitable, then hit it while
maintaining full control of your vehicle. The alternative of
swerving into oncoming traffic or a ditch could be even worse! |
8 |
| Only break sharply and stop if there is
no danger of being hit by following traffic |
9 |
| Try to come to a stop as far in front of
the animals as possible to enable it to leave the roadside without
panic. |
10 |
| There are six types of deer in the country
of which "Red" and "Roe" are both indigenous
to the United Kingdom. |
information and pictures sourced from:
www.deercollisions.co.uk
and emails with Dr Jochen Langbein - Thanks! - There's a lot more
information and recent press releases on the website.
Some facts also from http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7136.asp |
