Deer Season Driving
Fall is a wonderful time to hit the great American highways – the sun is bright, the weather is mild and the trees become a vivid, dazzling rainbow of foliage. Fall is also deer season, meaning the animals are mating, being hunted, and getting frightened by farm equipment which is out harvesting fields. All of these things can drive deer out onto the road and in front of your car.
A recent article warns of the dangers of deer collisions in the fall. The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety compiled last year’s animal-related vehicle crashes, reporting over 2,398 crashes including 185 injuries and one fatality.
Deer tips
The NOHS offered a Deer-Vehicle Collision Information Kit from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Some of the pointers include:
- Stay alert – especially when you see a deer crossing sign, or are driving near trees. Don’t let the absence of a deer crossing sign lull you into assuming one will not jump out.
- If you see one, look for more – deer travel in groups, so if one has wandered out onto the road, his friends might be right behind him.
- Observe safe driving habits – keep your windshield clean, avoid distractions, wear your seatbelt, and drive sober. Don’t speed, because you should be able to slow down or stop if necessary.
- If you must, hit the deer – do not swerve or maneuver wildly to avoid a deer in the roadway. Slow down as much as you can, but if you must, hit the deer rather than careening off the road into a steep ditch or tree.
Deer can be unpredictable . Don’t let their spontaneous crossing ruin your fall driving.
Hit a deer? Great Plains Auto Body can help with the car repairs 402.334.7100
