Odocoileus virginianus – the white-tailed deer. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, 4,847 crashes on our roadways involved animals in 2020. Four of those crashes resulted in fatalities; 71 more caused injuries. Thanks to rising prices of literally everything, the average cost of repairing a vehicle that struck a deer is now over $6,000.
Here are a few road safety tips that will help you – and the deer – stay safe out on our highways.
Take extra caution when deer are most active
Deer are crepuscular. That means they are most active around dawn and dusk (which is uncoincidentally when deer hunters are also most active). You should always exercise caution while you are driving, but take special care to look out for deer when the sun is about to rise or just after it has set.
Take extra caution during the colder months
Deer usually migrate in the spring and fall. They also tend to move around more in the winter when their food sources are scarcer. Deer are especially active September through November: their mating season, which is also when collisions are most common. Animal strikes are twice as frequent during November as the annual average!
Take extra caution around woods
Deer aren’t fond of the deep woods, where food usually grows too high for their lips to reach. They prefer edge habitat: the fringes of the forest, which is why they commonly frequent forested areas around roadways.
Upgrade your headlights
There are LED and HID headlights that are both brighter. HID headlights are the brighter of the two, and they cast light over a broader area as well. Make sure to use your high beams whenever you don’t detect oncoming traffic
Slow down when you see a deer
Deer aren’t solitary animals. They commonly travel in groups of three to five, and may form herds as large as 30 to 40 If you see one deer crossing the road, slow down! Its friends might be following right after it.
Look for deer’s glowing eyes
Because the deer likes moving around in the dark, its eye has a special structure called a tapetum lucidum. The reflective layer of cells makes it easier for the deer to detect sneaky predators in dimly lit environments. The tapetum lucidum also reflects whitish, greenish or yellowish light when it is exposed to headlights – a clear visual indication when a deer is present.
Pay attention to deer crossing signs
The Department of Transportation typically decides to put up a deer crossing sign after a collision prompted a citizen request.
Honk your horn at deer
If a deer runs in front of your car, honk your horn. That will help the deer become aware of your presence, and decrease its likelihood of running headlong into your headlights.
Avoid driving while distracted
Distracted driving prevention begins with putting away your cell phone. Cell phone use is involved in 12% of all car accidents in the United States!
No matter how much caution you exercise, some auto accidents simply aren’t preventable. If you would like to make sure you’re covered while you’re driving, then we welcome you to contact McKinneyOlson Insurance today!