The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has re-issued a warning to drivers to beware of deer on the roads.
DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding motorists to watch for the animals after reports of increased white-tail deer activity. The group says drivers should be most cautious from dusk to dawn.
“Colliding with a large animal can cause injury to you or your passengers, or trigger an accident involving you and other motorists, as well as seriously damaging or totaling your vehicle,” Sergeant John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, said in a release. “With shorter fall days and increased deer movement, drivers need to avoid distractions and be especially alert for deer crossing roadways.”
DNREC has given some tips on how to avoid deer collisions:
• Turn your headlights on at dawn and dusk and keep your eyes on the road, scanning the sides of the road as well as what’s ahead of you. When there is no oncoming traffic, switch to high beams to better reflect the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• To reduce your risk of injury in a collision, always wear your seatbelt.
• Be especially aware of any distractions that might take your eyes off the road, even if only momentarily, such as cell phones, adjusting the radio, eating or passenger activities.
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• Watch for “Deer Crossing” signs that mark commonly-traveled areas, and be aware that deer typically cross between areas of cover, such as woods or where roads divide agricultural fields from woods.
• If you see a deer crossing the road ahead, slow down immediately and proceed with caution until you are past the crossing point. Deer usually travel in groups, so if you see one deer, there are likely to be others.
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten deer away. Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer, as these devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
• Do not swerve to miss a deer – brake and stay in your lane. Losing control of your vehicle, crossing into another lane, hitting an oncoming vehicle or leaving the roadway and hitting another obstacle such as a tree or a pole is likely to be much more serious than hitting a deer.
• If you hit a deer, stop at the scene, get your car off the road if possible and call police. Do not touch the animal or get too close.
For more information on white-tailed deer in Delaware, contact the Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.
