Published: October 14, 2008 10:51 pm      

Mating season puts deer on the move

Insurance officials offer safety tips

Frankfort — Deer become a greater roadway hazard this time of year as mating season arrives. Each year the mating season, which lasts from October through December, accounts for a spike in deer-related accidents in the state.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, there were 2,797 deer-related accidents reported in Kentucky in 2007 — leading to three fatalities and 76 injuries. This year, 1,430 deer-related accidents have been reported so far, resulting in one fatality and 56 injuries. Nationally, about 150 die each year in motor vehicle accidents involving deer.

“Many times these accidents are unavoidable, but motorists can reduce the risk by taking extra time to drive carefully and by staying alert — especially during dawn and dusk when visibility is lower and when deer tend to be on the move,” said Kevin Damron, Highway District 12’s chief engineer.

Highway officials attribute the increase of deer-related accidents to multiple factors:

‰Mating season puts deer on the move.

‰Farmers are harvesting crops, reducing food supply and potential hiding places.

‰There’s an increase in hunters and hikers in the woods.

‰Deer tend to move at daylight and dusk when visibility is at its poorest for motorists.

While deer tend to cross highways along regular trails most of the year, they can show up in towns, subdivisions and other unexpected places during the fall rut.

The Insurance Information Institute offers several defensive driving tips to help avoid striking a deer:

‰Be attentive from sunset to midnight and around sunrise.

‰Watch out at deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population, and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.

‰Use high beam headlights to better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.

‰Slow down and blow the horn with one long blast to drive deer away.

‰Brake firmly if a deer is in the road, but stay in the lane. Many serious accidents occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.

‰Always wear a seat belt. Most killed in deer-related accidents were not buckled.