DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

Deer Safety

*Dawn and dusk are the times you are most likely to encounter deer along the roadside.

*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.

*Though deer may wander into suburban neighborhoods, they are most frequently found on the outskirts of town and in heavily wooded areas.

*As pack animals, deer almost never travel alone. If you see one deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.

*Always wear a seatbelt. The most severe injuries in deer-vehicle collisions usually result from failure to use a seatbelt.

*Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadside and immediately begin to slow.

*Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic. This will increase your visibility and give you more time to react.

*Deer can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights so if you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights. Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road, as well. 

*Pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals. These signs are specifically placed in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent. 

*If you're on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.

*Never 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.

*Deer are unpredictable creatures, and one that is calmly standing by the side of the road may suddenly leap into the roadway without warning. Slowing down when you spot a deer is the best way to avoid a collision. However, if one does move into your path, maintain control and do your best to brake and give the deer time to get out of your way.

*Don't rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer. These have not been proven to work.

*If you do collide with a deer (or large animal), call emergency services if injuries are involved, or the local police if no one is injured, but damage has been caused to your property or someone else's. Never touch an animal that is in the roadway. Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible.

THANKS TO 102.3 WPTM'S VERY OWN DAN PRESTON FOR SUPPLYING THE PICTURE ABOVE. DAN, YOU MAY WANT TO BE SURE TO READ THIS PAGE YOURSELF!