(Municipality of Trent Lakes, ON) – On Friday September 27, 2013 at approximately 7:40 am officers from Peterborough County OPP investigated a single motor vehicle collision that occurred on county Road 36 involving a Motorcycle and a deer.
A 50 year old male traveling on County Road 36 struck a deer and was thrown from his motor cycle. He was taken to Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay with non- life threatening injuries.
Each year officers with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Peterborough Detachment investigate several motor vehicle collisions involving deer and other wild animals
Motorists are reminded that when traveling on any of the County’s highways and roadways during early morning and early evening hours that deer, bear and moose may also be traveling on or across those roads.
Be prepared to act because domestic and wild animals may be dazzled by headlights and freeze on either the road or ditch as your vehicle approaches, and then suddenly bolt in an unexpected direction.
Some tips to reduce your chances of becoming involved in a collision with a wild animal:
Turn your lights on for better visibility especially during dawn and dusk.
Pay attention to the road, especially in areas inhabited by deer.
Don’t be distracted by talking on a cell phone, changing the radio station, drinking or eating.
Keep your head up, visually scanning the road well in front of your motor vehicle.
If a deer crosses the road in front of you, slow down and assume that there are more following, as deer tend to travel together.
If you have to hit a deer or other wild animal, don’t swerve. It’s better to hit them. Many motorists have been injured or killed swerving to avoid a small animal by colliding with another vehicle, tree, ditch or pole.
Most importantly, SLOW DOWN. If you’re going too fast, you won’t have time to react if confronted with a deer on the road.