Tips to Avoid Hitting Deer And Drive Safely During October And November

Fall is the traditional mating season, also known as rutting season, for most species of deer. Depending on your region, this peaks in the two months of October and November. It is a time when male deer are in pursuit of does. So, how would you drive safe during this time of year by bypassing colliding with deer while driving?

The most activity around this happens early in the mornings but also around the time of day the sun goes down. This is bad news for drivers since this is when driving visibility conditions are possibly the worst given the low angles of the sun as well as the dim light.

According to recent statistics, West Virginia (WV) is the most likely state in the USA where the odds to hit a deer is 1 in 44.

An adult male deer can have a weight of 150 pounds or even more, so a collision with one can naturally result in severe damage to a car or vehicle, possibly even resulting in injuries to you as a driver or your passengers. Also, not all insurance providers or plans covers hitting a deer, be sure to check it before purchasing one.

The biggest accidents typically result from drivers slamming on brakes or trying to swerve to avoid a hit. As such, many authorities recommend just driving straight through a collision to avoid winding up in a ditch, getting rear ended, crossing into oncoming traffic, or also hitting pedestrians.

• Of course, the best thing to do is just avoid hitting deer in the first place. If possible, do not drive at those times of day during the fall, or at least avoid areas where deer populations are known to be.
• However, given the spread of human civilization, especially suburbs into deer zones, this might not be possible. Do be mindful of locations with deer crossing signs, as these indicate local populations of deer to be mindful of. Watch out a lot after daylight saving time ends, as that often makes commuting periods align closer to deer activity.
• If you do see a deer, keep your eyes open, as there may be others nearby or following single file. Slow down your speed and be alert for sudden movement, as deer can change speed, direction, and start and stop all in very quick manners. If a deer is still and in the roadway, don’t attempt to get around it; wait for it to move.
• Also, make sure everyone in your vehicle has a seat belt on and avoid tailgating other drivers. You do not want to rear end them if they hit a deer or wreck avoiding one.