Avoiding Deer Collisions on the Road

Hello, I’m Lauren Fix, The Car Coach. Avoid deer collisions! That buck could cost you lots of dough; there are some hefty costs that come with hitting a deer. Both parties lose when car and deer collide, and high-speed contact with a doe will cost the car owner a lot of dough.

A recent survey of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts shop owners finds that the frequency and severity of deer collisions and deer-related accidents are growing as quickly as the deer population in some markets and, with the cold-weather months providing peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, this risk is on the rise.

The cost of hitting a deer is on the rise with the average cost of a deer-related collision repair now between $2,500 and $5,000, while some five percent of repairs are between $5,000 and $10,000.

Drive Defensively to Avoid Deer Collisions

This year, some 1.5 million drivers will hit deer, and November is the peak month for deer-related accidents. But drivers can avoid an accident with a buck — and spending lots of bucks on the damage — by following some smart driving tips this fall and winter.

Early morning and dusk are the worst times for deer collisions, as visibility is limited and deer are frequently on the move. It is important to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the road.

Tips to reduce the deer danger:

• Use extra caution at dawn and dusk and around golf courses, fields and wooded areas.
• Remember that deer travel in herds — if you spot one, there are likely more behind it.
• Don’t swerve to avoid striking a deer, as that increases the risk of hitting another vehicle or losing control of the car.
• If there is no opposing traffic, use high beams at night to better illuminate deer.
• Don’t rely on devices such as deer whistles. They have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
• If a deer remains on the highway after you strike it, report the incident to the game commission or a local law enforcement agency, as the deer poses a danger to other motorists. If the deer is still alive, don’t go near it.
• If an accident with a deer does occur, it pays to be protected. Many drivers don’t realize that carrying only collision coverage does not cover damage from a deer accident. Carry comprehensive insurance that covers such crashes.

For more information, go to twcnews.com. I’m Lauren Fix, The Car Coach.

Courtesy of Time Warner Cable News
Aired: 12/16/2013