Some Thoughts on Avoiding Car Accidents With Deer

In our rural communities, particularly along Skyline Boulevard, La Honda Road and Highway One, we are particularly susceptible to an encounter between a deer and our vehicle. If you live or drive in an area heavily populated by deer, you can reduce your odds of having a car accident with one of our four-legged friends by considering these simple tip sand using a little common sense.

Deer are most active at night, and most jumpy in the fall during their rut season. In our area rutting season begins in mid-October,peaks in early November and extends into December. Use your high beams when driving at night, it allows you to see them easier. If you see one deer, there's likely to be more, so slow down at the first sighting to avoid accidents. Deer get confused and blinded by your headlights, so don't assume that it sees you and will not cross your path. Most deer are looking right at the car when it causes an accident.

Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. Be aware at areas around fields, streams, and gardens. Drive slowly through these areas, and go through turns much slower than usual in case there's one in the road you can't see yet. If you observe a hit deer on the side of the road, know that it's a likely place to have an accident with one and use caution in that area in the future.

If you see that a collision with a deer is unavoidable, do not swerve. Brace yourself and apply your brakes. Hitting a deer head on is a much less severe accident than swerving off the road or into an oncoming car.Most car accidents involving deer only leave minor cosmetic damage, however it can damage your radiator leading it to overheat and causing serious damage to your motor. If you think your damage may be severe, use caution getting out to look as an injured deer has been known to regain consciousness and attack. Otherwise,drive a safe distance away, pull off to the side of the road, and then inspect.If your radiator is leaking fluid, turn your car off immediately and have it towed to a garage. Your insurance company may require a police report to file a claim for coverage.

Hitting a deer is horrible, I know I have been there.  Hopefully this info helps keep that from happening to someone else not to mention the deer. Drive safe.