Now’s the time to be wary of deer vehicle collisions

Posted on: November 1, 2017 | Bob Frye | Comments

Deer vehicle collisions can be deadly.

Deer vehicle collisions can be traumatic, as evidenced by this Isanti County Sherriff’s Department cruiser.
Photo: Facebook

There are deer vehicle collisions, and then there are deer vehicle collisions.

This?

Mercy, this was something on a whole new level.

According to Facebook post by the Isanti County Sherrif’s Department in Minnesota, an officer was alerted to a call of a man inside a restaurant with a gun. Of course, the office responded, and quickly.

He was traveling at 114 miles per hour – 114 – when a deer ran into the road in front of him.

It did not end well.

The officer, miraculously, survived without serious injuries. The deer did not fare well, though, nor did the officer’s cruiser.

The car was decimated. The deer? Well, look at the pictures and video and you’ll just have to take the officer’s word that there was once a deer there.

“The deputy did a great job of just getting on the brakes and keeping it in his lane, even though the hood went into his windshield. It goes to show how dangerous deer strikes can be, but this also shows how important it is to NOT swerve when an animal strike is going to occur,” reads a post on the Department’s Facebook page.

“If the deputy swerved he would have rolled and been injured or worse. Staying in a straight line kept the injuries to a minimum when the air bags deployed.”

The Department goes on to add that all drivers should be alert to deer, especially now.

That’s wise advice.

Wildlife agencies all across the Northeast are reminding drivers that fall –with the onset of the rut, or deer breeding season, and hunting – have deer on the move unlike at any other time of year.

And accidents are expensive.

Animals crossing the road lead to deer vehicle collisions.

Deer vehicle collisions spike in fall when the breeding season and hunting put whitetails on the move.
Photo: West Virginia DNR

Indeed, State Farm estimates there were 1.35 million auto-deer collisions in the United States between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. Average repair costs were $4,179.

November, October and December, in that order, are the worst months for crashes.

West Virginia is the state where drivers are most likely to hit a deer, State Farm numbers show. It’s annual rankings – done each year for 15 years now – put the odds of hitting a deer in the Mountain State at 1 in 43.

Montana was the next worst state for crashes, followed by Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Michigan and North Dakota.

Avoiding deer vehicle collisions

How to avoid hitting a deer with your vehicle? West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources offers this advice.

  • Be aware of your surroundings and make use of your peripheral vision. If you see a deer in the roadway, immediately reduce your speed and honk your horn using short blasts.
  • Drive with your headlights on, and use high beams whenever it is safe to do so.
  • Drive at a reduced speed, especially during early morning and late evening hours when deer movements are likely to increase.
  • Do not swerve or leave your lane to avoid a deer. If you encounter a deer in or adjacent to the road, slow down or stop until it is safe to proceed.
  • If you see one deer, look for more, as they often travel in small groups. Always drive defensively.

What to do after deer vehicle collisions

Hit a deer? Here’s what State Farms says you should do next.

  • Move your vehicle to a safe place. If possible, pull over to the side of the road, and turn on your hazard lights. If you must leave your vehicle, stay off the road and out of the way of any oncoming vehicles. Deer are most active at dusk and dawn—times when you or your vehicle may be less visible to other motorists.
  • Call the police. Alert authorities if the deer is blocking traffic and creating a threat for other drivers. If the collision results in injury or property damage, you may need to fill out an official report. This report also can prove useful when filing your insurance claim.
  • Document the incident. If it’s safe to do so, take photographs of the roadway, your surroundings, damage to your vehicle, and any injuries you or your passengers sustained. If witnesses stop, take down their account of what occurred, and ask for their contact information.
  • Stay away from the animal. A frightened, wounded deer could use its powerful legs and sharp hooves to harm you.
  • Contact your insurance agent. The sooner you report damage or injuries, the sooner your agent can file and process your claim.
  • Don’t assume your vehicle is safe to drive. Double-check that your car is drivable after colliding with a deer.
  • Look for leaking fluid, loose parts, tire damage, broken lights, a hood that won’t latch and other safety hazards. If your vehicle seems unsafe in any way, call for a tow.

The bounty of deer vehicle collisions

Mash a deer with your vehicle? There’s likely nothing you can do with that animal.

But if you kill a deer with your car or truck without smashing it up too badly? Well, you can eat it.

Pennsylvania residents who hit a deer can claim the carcass by calling the appropriate Game Commission within 24 hours. A dispatcher will collect some information and provide a free permit number.

Then, chow down.

There are several books out there on how to eat roadkill. They include details on how to eat more than simply deer, too.

Just don’t go looking for antlers. In Pennsylvania it’s illegal to just chop the antlers off a road-killed deer. Drivers have to turn those over to the commission or buy them for $10 a point.

Deer vehicle collisions are more common in some states than others.

West Virginia is the worst state for deer vehicle collisions, according to State Farm.
Photo: Courtesy State Farm

Bob Frye is the everybodyadventures.com editor. Reach him at 412-838-5148 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at everybodyadventures.com.

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