Deer Crashes are Increasing in North Carolina
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 | posted by: Admin
The number of deer-related accidents in North Carolina that were reported to police in 2008 reached 19,693, an increase of more than 400 from the previous year, according to a study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
David Harkey, director of UNC Highway Research Center, said that in the past five years North Carolina has seen a 27 percent increase in deer-related crashes.
In North Carolina, 50 percent of all deer-related crashes occurred during the three months of October, November and December, according to Harkey. While a crash involving a deer can happen at any time, almost 80 percent of deer-related crashes in 2008 occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Drivers need to exercise more caution than usual during the next few months, especially when driving at dawn or dusk.
The Highway Safety Research Center offers the following tips for lowering your risk of a crash with a deer:
Slow down! In areas with a large deer population, or where there are deer warning signs, drivers should reduce their speed.
Always wear your seat belt! It’s your best protection from injuries in the event of a crash.
Watch for eyes reflecting in your headlights. Try to look far down the road and scan the roadsides, especially when driving through field edges, heavily wooded areas, or posted deer crossing areas. The sooner you see a deer on or approaching a road, the better your chances of avoiding a crash.
Remember that deer travel in herds. If you see one deer cross the road in front of you, don’t assume that all is clear. Deer herds can be fairly large, and the animals often move one right behind the other.
Do not place confidence in “deer whistles” or other “ultra-sonic” devices that claim to prevent deer collisions.
Maintain control of your vehicle. It is important that you not lose control of your vehicle or veer into the path of an oncoming vehicle to avoid contact with an animal. Loss of control usually results in a more serious crash.
Sources: The University of North Carolina Highway Research Center and physorg.com/news
