Deer & Animal Road Obstacles can be Deadly
The holidays are coming soon, but first, there’s deer-crash season. November has earned the dubious national distinction of having the most car accidents with deer, and Texas is no exception. When they’re running across the road to seek (or perhaps avoid) a mate during rutting season, deer don’t know to “look both ways” and often dart out right in front of traffic.
With only seconds to respond, drivers may panic. Distracted drivers may not notice until it’s too late. Impaired drivers may be confused by what’s happening. In any scenario, there are multiple risks, sometimes involving more than one car.
So how can you prevent a crash?
Some tried-and-true tips recommended by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and others are based on common sense:
- Be vigilant when driving at dawn or dusk; and at night, use your high-beam headlights when you can. You’ll see the road more clearly.
- Continuously scan the road and side shoulders ahead of you for approaching animals during these same times of day. (At the same time, keep your eyes on what’s right in front of you as well.)
- If you see one deer, wait for it to cross and then look for others. They will travel together at times.
What if the deer loses…and the driver also loses?
If the above tactics don’t help one day and you end up heading straight for a deer when it’s too late to completely stop, mitigate the effects of the crash by staying in your lane. That’s harder than you think. Your first instinct will be to swerve, but if you do so you’re putting other drivers and passing vehicles at risk. Slow as much as possible, applying steady pressure to the brakes. You may hit and injure the deer, and you may receive injuries as well, but that’s a better outcome than running into another car-or a heavy truck-by swerving into another lane. Take a look at our info on what to do when you get into an accident.
Deer crashes can’t always be controlled
As careful as you try to be, strange chain-reaction accidents can still happen. There’s no telling how drivers around you may react and respond to a deer on the road. In short, you need to take extra care, slow down, be alert and focus on defensive driving during November as deer crossings will be plentiful. Getting to your destination a few minutes later than desired is not a big deal compared to colliding with wildlife and all the repercussions that could bring. Stay safe!
