Did you ever wonder why deer don’t do a better job of avoiding loud vehicles with bright lights approaching them? Paul Curtis, a professor of wildlife science at Cornell University said this “Most mammals and birds have a capacity for learning what is a real danger to them and what is not — it's a survival mechanism. Cars, noises, and lights are meaningless to deer because there is no ecological basis for them to fear them.” Which makes sense, and when deer do feel threatened, they turn and run, just hopefully not in front of a car.
Deer are abundant and can be spotted near the road at any time of the year, but because of the breeding season, which peaks in mid-November, they become more active at this time of year, thus causing more accidents.
Here are a few tips to avoid deer collisions:
- Deer are nocturnal and are at their most active from predawn to mid-morning and dusk to early evening, corresponding with school and work commutes. Slow down a little and be more aware.
- Use the one plus one theory – Deer seldom travel alone. If you see one, expect others.
- Use your bright lights whenever possible to detect deer. Deer, and some other animals, have a reflective layer of tissue in their eyes that makes them reflective.
- Always wear your seatbelt. It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law. Also, most people who were injured in vehicle VS. deer accidents were not wearing their seatbelts.
- Lastly, don’t swerve. If a deer jumps in front of your vehicle, don’t swerve. Instead, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and brake firmly while staying in your lane. Hitting the deer may be unavoidable, but the chances of you walking away are much better than if you swerved, which could result in hitting another vehicle, or possibly rolling your car.