Virginia ranks eighth nationally in the number of motorists who hit a deer late last year and early this year, Drive Smart Virginia said Monday.
The group, created by some of Virginia’s auto insurance companies, cautioned motorists to be especially aware of whitetail deer on roadways in October, November and December because of breeding.
State Farm Insurance estimates that 54,135 Virginia drivers hit a deer during the last half of 2007 and the first half of this year, according to a statement from Drive Smart Virginia. That amounts to one in 123 drivers.
Among the group’s tips for motorists:
- Be aware of posted deer crossing signs.
- Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
- Brake if you see a deer in your vehicle’s path, but don’t swerve to miss a deer.
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It's because dogs can't read either
VA allows hunting for deer with hounds and the dogs chase them all over, including the roads. The dogs occasionally get hit as well. Get rid of a unnecessary reason for deer being chased and it might affect the accident rate. Learn to hunt fair chase and not with dogs and the running scared deer numbers will go down.
Just be careful
1 - Deer don't read the deer crossing signs. They cross the road wherever they darn well please.
2- Deer are active whenever they want to be. In my experience they seem to key in more on the weather than time. I think that deer seen outside of the "normal" active deer times are more likely to be hit because they have been spooked by something and are running scared.
My point is that you have to be paying attention all the time and actually driving the car - not on the cell phone, texting, etc.
Just my opinion.
reminder.....
This story reminds me of a joke I heard....This man calls the highway dept to move the "deer crossing" sign from in front of his house. He was unhappy of the amount of the deer running through his yard and hoped by moving the sign it would cause the deer to cross further down the road. Silly.