Keeping Safe While Driving During Deer Season
This time of year all across Eastern Ontario, a significant number of deer can be found on the highway. Unfortunately, deer-vehicle collisions have killed or seriously injured people all across the province in great numbers. According to the provincial government, most deer-vehicle accidents occur between dusk and dawn on straight stretches of road, especially in high-deer density areas marked with deer signs. However, even in areas with low deer density, deer can pose as a hazard to drivers so it’s important to always keep an eye out for deer while safely driving. The annual cost estimates for vehicle damages alone are more than $1 million annually.
10 tips to avoid a deer collision this winter
1. Reduce speed
This will greatly improve your chances of avoiding a deer-vehicle collision
2. Clear your headlights, windows, and windshield
By ensuring your vision is not obscured by snow or salt, you will be giving yourself the best chance of spotting a deer in time to slow down.
3. Listen to radio warnings
The radio will keep you informed of deer that have been spotted alongside the road and of weather conditions that may make it harder to see a deer on the road.
4. Scan both sides of the road
This is important to do so you can react quickly if a deer appears.
5. Avoid driving between dusk and dawn
This is when deer-vehicle collisions are most likely to occur, so mitigate your risks of getting injured by staying off the road after dusk.
6. At the first sign of a deer slow down
Deer are very unpredictable so it is important to be cautious and to reduce speed until you can safely pass them.
7. Wear a seatbelt
Seatbelts save lives!
8. Don’t drive while distracted
Friends, cellphones, and other distractions will keep your attention off of the road so it is important to make sure you reduce the number of distractions that are keeping you from paying attention to the road.
9. Keep vehicle in top mechanical condition
It is important to make sure you car is in good mechanical condition and have enough windshield fluid and that your brakes and headlights are both working properly, so you do not put yourself at risk of getting into a deer-vehicle accident.
10. Never drink and drive!
If you get behind the wheel after drinking, you are putting yourself and others in danger and your reaction time will be greatly reduced, which would have fatal consequences if there is a deer on the road.
Safe driving!
I’ve hit 2 deers in my lifetime, and they sure do make alot of damage. I used to go to work at 1 in the morning and I had to travel to Norwich and that stretch from Delhi was always bad for deer because of the dairy farms, there was always deer running out, one morning I had to stop there must of been about 20 deers just taking their sweet o time crossing the road, I was amazed they weren’t even scared of the car and the headlights, but it was cool
These are some great tips. There’s a lot of deer out there!
Oh, good info.
I’ve never hit a deer yet but they sure scare me at nights! Great tips–thanks for sharing!
Excellent post! I work a 3-11 shift and often see deer on my drive home – your tips are perfect and good ones that all drivers should keep in mind. Deer are very unpredictable! Found you today via the SITS Comment Love event and hope you have a wonderful day! 😀
This is such a serious topic and I am so glad to see a post about it. Thankfully we have never hit a deer but I am quite afraid to! Great tips on how to lessen the danger. Everyone should read this and remember!
So true Brenda! I live in the country side and see many, but so far none on the road, lucky me lol!
I live in Kentucky, and we have a huge deer population, too. I was unlucky enough to hit a deer last Spring on our driveway (it’s 2 miles long). It just came out of nowhere!
The tips in the post are great. I really am conscious, now, of scanning the roadsides ahead of me in the more rural areas.
I can remember hitting a dear one winter in upstate NY when I was in high school. It was scary and we were lucky to drive away. Stopping by from SITS comment love.
Thanks for the tips! I’m not sure if it is like this everywhere, but in Oklahoma the deer have been way more active & brave this year. I saw one go across a four lane road at 3 o’clock in the afternoon this fall.
great safety tips as a deer raining out of the ditch can happen in the blink of an eye and especially when you least expect it too!
I did hit a deer once, it was very frightening. It was big and got bigger as we slid towards it – I was braking of course but couldn’t stop quickly enough. I had to pull it off the road or it would have been a hazard to others – it was so very heavy. I was however lucky in my unluck since the repair man said if the hood of my car had moved backwards another inch, we in the car, wouldn’t have survived the accident.
That is so scary Elizabeth! Glad you are all fine.
Thanks for the tips,we have to be careful of moose here.They are everywhere
I think distracted driving tip can apply for everything. No deer crossings here..
No deer crossings here, but these tips are great for everyday driving.