During these fall months, deer are coming down to the valley to mate and bed down for the winter. If you were to encounter deer on the road, the common saying “like a deer in headlights” might come to mind. As it suggests, when close to a deer, especially during the night, you will find that they freeze in fear and stare at you.
Most people associate fall months with the changing weather and colorful landscapes; however, you may find that deer could interrupt your sightseeing. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost 2 million collisions involving a deer happen in the United States each year. Staying safe during this time is paramount, especially before the dangerous winter months. To reduce your risk of enduring severe damages and injuries, here are a few tips to help you avoid deer collisions so you can focus more on the beautiful scenery:
- Follow the speed limit.
- Watch for deer/wildlife-crossing signs.
- Stay alert early in the morning and throughout the evening.
- Slow down if you see one deer, as they like to travel in a herd
- Please pay special attention to other drivers as you may find that some will try to warn you by simple gestures like flashing their high beams.
- Always, no matter what, look for deer, especially in more rural areas of the valley.
If you cannot avoid a Utah Deer Collision
Unfortunately, there are scenarios where you cannot avoid hitting a deer. An example could be if a deer jumps out from behind a shrub into the road, and you do not have enough time to react and slow down. While it may be your first instinct to swerve in an attempt to maneuver around the deer, this will more likely result in a more severe accident, as you may collide with oncoming traffic. Instead, break hard (only if safe to do so) and hold onto your steering wheel to stay in your lane. After the collision, make sure that you can pull over to a safe location and turn on your hazard lights. Exit your vehicle when it is safe and gather essential evidence that you may need (i.e., photos, video footage, etc.) to file a claim with your insurance. No matter what, if the deer may still seem to be alive, do not get close to it and try to help it. The deer could try to defend itself as the last stand and injure you in the process.
Ultimately, stay as attentive as possible when you’re on the road during these fall months. Watch out for deer at all times, and hopefully, these tips will help you avoid a potentially devastating collision with a deer. It is paramount to understand that if a deer jumps in front of your car, the safest this to do is not to swerve your vehicle.
