Just in case you didn’t know, had forgotten or just weren’t paying attention, reminders were announced this week that there are lots of deer out there. Seriously, and they are really anxious to run in front of your car right now.
This past week, the Associated Press announced there are deer dangers out there.
“The Kansas Department of Transportation says November is the traditional month that deer begin mating and moving more across the countryside. They’re also more active during low-light conditions of dawn and dusk.
“Officials say the reduced hours of daylight and lack of vegetation in late fall also contribute to a rise in deer-vehicle accidents.
“KDOT says there were more than 9,600 deer-vehicle collisions in Kansas in 2009.”
And those accidents are not cheap.
“The AAA notes that deer cause 1.6 million vehicle crashes annually.
“The Insurance Information Institute says such accidents average $3,000 in damages.
“Deer accidents spike from October through December, during mating season.”
The deer things have other stuff on their little minds, besides watching both ways as they cross the highway, or the dirt road, or your drive way. Literally.
They come right into town, you know.
Safety experts suggest you be careful if you are driving at dusk, dawn or night.
If there’s no on-coming traffic, try using your brights. That can alert the deer better.
But the best advice is for drivers to be alert.
Scan the ditches and fields as you drive, keeping alert for any movement.
Frequently, deer move in groups, so if you see one, there’s probably more coming.
And, if you can’t avoid the animal, and you have to brake, do it in a straight line.
Swerving will almost certainly make things worse.
— Chuck Smith