Deer mating season is upon us as fall begins. During the months of October through December, the chance of hitting a deer while driving nearly doubles. November is the worst month for crashes—October is second.
For professional truck drivers, animal strikes are considered non-preventable accidents; however, if the driver swerves or leaves the roadway in an attempt to avoid the animal, the accident could be deemed preventable.
For all drivers, swerving can cause a vehicle to lose control and travel off the road or into oncoming traffic. The potentially life-threatening effects of swerving and rolling your vehicle or traveling head-on into another motorist are not worth the risk, so you may have no other choice than to strike an animal. Don’t veer for deer.
There are several precautions drivers can take to help reduce the risk of hitting a deer or other animal:
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Stay alert and keep your eyes up. Pay attention to “deer crossing” signs, and be especially watchful near large fields and wooded areas.
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Avoid distractions that may cause you to miss seeing an animal in your path.
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Watch out at mealtime. Animals usually venture out to eat between dusk and dawn.
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Use your high beams as much as possible at night to illuminate the road’s edges. Look for the reflection of animal eyes and silhouettes on the shoulder of the road.
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Deer tend to travel in herds; if you see one, there are probably others nearby.