Don’t veer for deer

For most of us, autumn is the time when the leaves turn, the temperature starts to drop, and the nights begin to draw in. That doesn’t tell the full story. There is one hazard in particular that sees a sharp rise from mid-October through to December each year, and it’s one that anyone living in the vicinity of deer country should probably be aware of.

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is renewing its call for drivers to take extra care during autumn, particularly in areas where deer are common. And given the fact that there are around 2 million deer spread across every part of the country, that applies to pretty much all of us.

Autumn marks the beginning of the annual rut, filling the countryside with male deer intent on sowing the wild oats they’ve been munching on all summer. The annual breeding season sees thousands of deer herds on the move, increasing the likelihood of collisions on the many roads that cross their path.

The periods of highest deer activity occur when they leave the safety of the undergrowth in order to feed. Deer are inherently nervous and like to take advantage of the lower light around dawn and dusk to conceal their movements. It shouldn’t take a genius to spot the potential problem here: more deer are on the move due to the rut, and their optimum feeding conditions just happen to coincide with the morning and evening rush hours.

That means the months from now to December are arguably the highest-risk period in any areas where deer can be found.

RSPCA data indicates that around 75,000 deer are involved in vehicle collisions each year, with roughly 10,000 killed instantly. Unfortunately, it’s not just the deer that fall victim to these collisions either.

The Deer Initiative - a partnership setup to safely manage the UK’s deer population involving the likes of DEFRA, Highways Agency, National Trust, British Veterinary Association, RSPCA, NFU, Forestry Commission, and numerous smaller charities and organisations – collates annual figures from a wide range of sources. According to its data, fatalities from collisions involving deer average between 10 and 20 annually, and industry figures show vehicle damage repairs cost at least £11 million per year.

GEM Head of Road Safety James Luckhurst says: “The coming weeks will see the highest risks in areas where deer are found. We urge drivers to heed the warning signs and be alert and observant, especially at dawn and dusk.

Stay alert, but don’t veer for deer

• Do take note of deer warning signs - Signs are usually positioned where animal crossings are most likely, but they could happen anywhere.
  
  
• Beware during peak danger periods – The largest spikes in collisions occur between October and December (with another peak in May). Highest-risk times are from sunset to midnight, and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.
  
  
• Drive with caution - On roads where hitting a deer is a possibility, drive with caution at or below the posted speed limit.
  
  
• Seen one deer? Look for another - Be aware that further deer may well cross after the one you have noticed, particularly during the mating season where deer are moving in larger herds.
  
  
• Use your lights – Using full-beam when there is no opposing traffic will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway and give you a bit more reaction time. If you do spot something, dim your headlights as startled animals may ‘freeze’ rather than leaving the road.
  
  
• Don't over-swerve to avoid hitting a deer – It's an awful decision to be facing, but if a collision is unavoidable you should try to hit the animal while maintaining full control of your car. Swerving into oncoming traffic or leaving the road to avoid a collision could lead to an even worse scenario than a direct hit.
  
  
• Following traffic - Only brake sharply and stop if there is no danger of being hit by the vehicles behind you. Try to come to a stop as far away from an animal as possible to enable it to leave the roadside without panic.

And just in case the worst does happen, we thought it was worth adding another chunk of advice from the Deer Initiative.

If you see an injured deer on the roadside, what should you do?

• Pull over at the next safe place
  
  
• Call the Police. Giving as precise a location as you can. They will deal with road safety issues and have access to specialists who will know the best course of action for the animal if it is alive

If you hit a deer while driving, your priorities, in this order, are:

• Keep yourself and anyone with you as safe as you can
• Park your car in the safest place with hazard lights on. Consider using it to also warn other road users
• Call an ambulance if human injuries warrant it
• Call the Police

If the deer is alive and still visible at roadside:

• It is best not to approach it. Doing so may cause it to run across traffic causing another accident
• It is usually best not to move or handle live deer, you may be injured if they struggle
• It will not benefit from efforts to sit with it or keep it warm
• If you are involved in a deer vehicle collision and require assistance, please contact the police

Stay alert this autumn and drive safely. Find out more about vehicles and driving at Gateway2Lease.