Tips On Avoiding Deer Collisions

Posted: November 9, 2023 at 9:12 am

It’s deer season, which is bad news for the deer, but it can be very bad news for you if one jumps in front of your car. November is the peak time of year for automobile-deer collisions, because it’s when deer are most active. But there are precautions you can take if you find yourself driving in areas where deer are known to be present. According to AAA, these are the best ways to avoid dangerous deer collisions:

• Pay very close attention to the road ahead of you and be prepared to hit the brakes if you see an animal in the road.
• Use your high beams at night. It’ll light up more of the road and help you spot a deer’s reflective eyes sooner.
• Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk because this is peak time for deer collisions.
• Always wear your seatbelt. Deer collisions can be deadly for the driver, too.
• If you don’t think you can avoid hitting a deer, do not swerve. Swerving could cause you to hit another car.
• Do not speed up. That will cause more damage.
• Grab the wheel and slam on the brakes. Braking can minimize the damage caused by a deer collision.

Here’s what you should do if you hit a deer:

• Try to move the car off the road and put on your hazard lights.
• Report the accident to police and let them know if there’s an injured deer in the road.
• Take pictures of the damage to your car for the insurance company.
• Make sure your car is operable before trying to drive away from the scene of the crash.