Oh Deer! ...Roadkill Season Is Here!

While driving home from my belated birthday celebration tonight, a few deer friends jumped out of the woods to surprise me! It was dark and we almost didn't see them. My husband hit the brakes just in time. We stopped and so did they - in the middle of the road they stood there staring back at us ...like deer in the headlights!

Yes, the headlights of a car will cause a deer to freeze.

It's THAT time of year once again. It's getting cold at night in the Hudson Valley. Cold months are the peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, especially given a soaring deer population for this time of year.

On the 2 1/2 mile country road approach to my subdivision, I am reminded every day that these animals are as much dangerous as they are beautiful. My son's first car accident occured 2 weeks after he got his license - it was this time of year too. He swerved to avoid a deer just one mile down the road from our neighborhood. He successfully avoided the deer but hit a tree head-on and totaled his sister's car. Thank goodness, he and his friend walked away without a scratch. My son only had to answer to our daughter and fortunately she was away at college. That was 6 years ago!

Don't find out the hard way. Some auto insurance policies do not cover damage to a vehicle for crashes involving deer. Be sure to check with your insurance agent about your policy. Auto accidents involving deer total 1.5 million a year according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports - and they result in 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in vehicle damage.

Avoiding Deer/Car Collisions (The Highway Safety Research Center):

• 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.