This time of year can be particularly dangerous on the roads as we enter peak-mating season for deer.
The number of motor-vehicle wrecks involving deer goes from 200 to 400 per day before October to around 1000 by early to mid November, according to a study by the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism keeping track of deer-involved motor-vehicle wrecks in Kansas from 2006 to 2017.
With these numbers in mind, it is important to know what to do when one comes across a deer crossing the road.
According to Ben Jedlicka, a Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism game warden, hitting a deer actually lowers the risk of injury to passengers in the motor vehicle when compared to swerving out of the way and possibly ending up in a ditch. This is because many motor vehicles are designed to protect passengers from such impacts.
“The objective needs to be to be on the roadway after the accident occurs,” Jedlicka said. “That’s the safest place for you and your car: to get to the other side of the deer and still be on the roadway.”
If a collision does occur, the driver should get the motor vehicle off the road, if possible, and remain in the motor vehicle while calling emergency services to inform them of the accident and any injuries that may have occurred.
“Your being out of the vehicle, it puts you in a hazard where now you’re the obstacle in the roadway for the next car that comes along,” Jedlicka said.
More information about how to avoid animal-involved motor-vehicle wrecks or what to do after a wreck occurs can be found at ksoutdoors.com.
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