Safety Tips for Deer Season 

Safety Tips for Deer Season 

Pay Attention to Signs 

The road is filled with signs that warn motorists of hazards. In many places that boast large populations of deer, there will be signs to warn drivers that there are deer in the area. In America, the signs are a yellow rhombus that has a deer in the center. Make sure that you’re also paying attention to the speed limit in these areas, as speed will affect your ability to get out of the way when you see a deer in your headlights. There may be electronic signs. For example, there are frequently electronic signs at the entrance of Snow Canyon in northern Utah. During the snowy months, it’s not uncommon for those signs to warn motorists that there are dangerous conditions ahead. Sometimes they’ll say that there’s heavy snow ahead and advise that you put chains on your tires. Other days it might warn that there’s low visibility ahead. If you see those signs, make sure you think about how you’ll need to adapt you’re driving to account for the weather conditions and deer. 

Slow Down When There Aren’t Lights 

Here are two helpful pieces of information to remember: deer love rural areas—the more rural the better, and rural areas don’t tend to have a lot of lighting—the more rural, the fewer the streetlights. If you’re driving through the middle of nowhere and there’s nothing but vast fields of nothingness on either side of you, you need to consider that there may be deer in that area. If there aren’t any streetlights, or the streetlights are few and far between, you may want to slow down so that you’re going slow enough to react in the event that a deer jumps out in front of you. There are stretches of road, typically in the middle of nowhere, where the speed limit is 80 miles per hour. During deer season, it may be dangerous to drive at those speeds if there isn’t adequate lighting. It would also be a good idea to remember that, just because there isn’t a deer in the middle of the road now, doesn’t mean that there won’t be a deer in the middle of the road in approximately 2 nanoseconds. 

Pay Attention to Weather Conditions that Affect Visibility 

Watch out for weather conditions that affect visibility. Deer can be difficult to see, and heavy fog, rain, or snow can only make matters worse. If you are in deer country, and you’re struggling to see the road, you may want to slow down to a speed where you are more able to react if deer are crossing unexpectedly. In some cases, it may be wise to refrain from driving until the weather improves. Some people don’t want to scrape their windshield off completely before driving, opting instead to have their car’s defrost take care of that for them. Do not do this—especially if you live in deer country. No matter where you’re driving, your windows should be completely cleaned off so that you can see out of them. Keep your eyes on the road at all times, and slow down when you’re struggling to see in front of you. 

Don’t Expect Deer to Get out of the Way 

If you don’t have experience with deer, or driving in a place with a lot of deer, you may not know that they get dazzled by headlights. While most dogs, cats, birds, and rodents, will quickly get out of the way when a car is coming toward them, deer do not. Deer have very sensitive night vision. When a car is coming their way, they typically get overwhelmed by the headlights, which causes them to freeze. Deer also frequently dart out in front of cars—which can happen out of fear, surprise, or instinct—leading many people to bask at just how dumb deer are. If you’re driving through deer country, you should expect there to be deer waiting on the sides of the road and drive accordingly. 

The Big Thing to Remember 

When you’re travelling at high speeds, it may be difficult to control the vehicle when a deer suddenly hops out in front of your car. In some cases, particularly those where the snow is falling fast, this could lead to a multi-car pile-up. If you think there are deer in the area, you may want to reduce your speed to a reasonable speed and keep your eyes on the road at all times. Do not look at your phone while driving, mess with the radio station, or try to make a call while looking at the road. Keep your eyes and focus on the road and drive at a reasonable speed that will promote your safety in the event that a deer does jump out in front of your car. 

Injured? 

If you have sustained injury in an accident, contact Moxie Law Group today to get started on your initial consultation. Stay safe out there!