Don’t Veer For Deer!

(PERTH COUNTY, ON) The Perth County OPP would like to reiterate their annual warnings to watch for wildlife. With a surge of car-deer collisions this past weekend the warning should not be taken lightly.

From Friday November 04, 2011 to Sunday November 06, 2011 the Perth County OPP were dispatched to 12 car-deer collisions. This is the highest number of collisions on a given weekend this year within the County and is an indication that deer are venturing across roadways as part of their mating movements. Local farmers are also actively harvesting their corn and hunters are scouting out bush areas which may cause movement in the deer population.

Of the 12 collisions, all of them occurred between sunset and midnight and during the hours before and after sunrise. No vehicle occupants were injured in these collisions however some vehicles were extensively damaged. One driver who attempted to avoid a deer on Saturday evening while driving Road 151 west of St.Marys lost control of his vehicle and struck a hydro pole. The 22 year old driver from St.Marys was shook-up, his vehicle and the hydro pole sustained damage.

The slogan “Don’t veer for deer” is something to keep in mind. Brake firmly but safely when you notice a deer in or near your path, and stay in your lane. Crashes where drivers swerve to avoid deer usually tend to result in injuries to the vehicle occupants. By trying to avoid the deer, vehicles often leave the roadway, roll in ditches and strike trees or hydro poles.

– Drive with caution when driving through areas known to have large deer populations, watch for the yellow warning signs and slow down in these areas. If you see one deer there are usually more.

– When driving at night use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.

– Always wear your set belt. Most people injured in deer-vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belt.

– Slow down and be extra alert in areas where deer may cross; this will allow for more reaction time.

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