Deer Season Is Here, Tips To Stay Safe On The Roadways

Fall is here, which means deer are already on the move, according to a Greene County health official.

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Drivers can encounter deer on or near the road during the day or night.

Since 2017, there have been about 102,000 deer-related accidents in Ohio, according to a spokesman.

Although 95% of these accidents caused only property damage, 29 resulted in fatalities, for a total of 31 deaths. 20 of these accidents involved motorcycles.

The spokesman said there were 11 deer-related fatalities in 2021, about 40% of the total.

47% of accidents occurred in October, November and December. Mornings and evenings are the times when most deer incidents occur.

According to the press secretary, 26 percent of these accidents occurred between 5:00 and 7:59 in the morning, and 31 percent between 18:00 and 21:59 in the evening.

In urban areas, most accidents occur with the participation of ordinary vehicles.

The Ministry of Health has issued some recommendations to remind drivers of safety measures.

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How to stay safe during deer season:

• Deer are most likely to be on the road at dawn, at 7am and again at 7:30pm.

• The breeding season lasts from October to early January. Deer are most active at this time.

• Deer can often be found on the outskirts of cities and in densely forested areas. Sometimes they can walk in the suburbs.

• A deer never travels alone.

Preventive methods:

• Drive slower to avoid a collision.

• Always wear your seat belt.

• Look at the flashing eyes on the side of the road and immediately slow down.

• Use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic on the road to improve visibility and give you more time to react.

• Deer may be attracted to consistent, bright light. So if you're stuck on the road, slow down and turn on your headlights. Experts advise to scare them with a long voice.

• Pay particular attention to warning signs that indicate the presence of deer or other large animals.

• When driving on a multi-lane road, drive in the middle lane to give deer as much room as possible to graze.

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Tips if you encounter a deer:

• Never swerve to avoid deer on the road. Movement can confuse a deer about where to run and cause it to collide with an oncoming vehicle, causing you to veer off the road into a tree or ditch and increase your risk of serious injury.

• Deer are unpredictable, so a deer standing quietly on the side of the road can jump onto the road without warning. If someone jumps in front of your car, slow down, maintain control, hit the brakes and give them time to move.

• Do not rely on hood whistles or other deer deterrent devices.

• If you encounter a deer or other large animal, call 911 if there are injuries or the local police if no one is injured. Never touch an animal on the road. Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible.

Six ways to avoid a deer encounter