When the Buck Stops the Buick: The Growing Problem of Deer Collisions
Nahtlin Guarnieri
Quality Control, I carry a clipboard and make sure products are in spec and safe for market
Perhaps influenced by the movie Jaws, say the word "shark" and a combination of awe, fear and terror will take over people's minds as they picture the bloodied water. Yet sharks are hardly a danger. There is a graver, ever-present danger far more fatal than shark attacks, ready to take unsuspecting drivers in a single leap. The word "deer" brings up Disney's bushy-tailed Bambi. A gentle, grazing herbivore, no one would assume deer would be the cause of so much damage and destruction, and the problem is growing, leaving drivers wondering what they can do to avoid them or handle being in a deer collision.
Death and damage by the numbers
Deer collisions are far more deadly than shark attacks. In 2020, the US had a record year of 33 shark attacks which caused serious injuries, ten of which were fatal. By comparison, the average number of deer collisions in the US is 1.5 million. Every year, ten thousand people are seriously injured and 200 people die. The likelihood of deer-based collisions is 1:116, but in rural West Virginia where deer numbers are high, the chances are 1:37.[1][2]
The costs are staggering with an average of $1.1 billion dollars in damage. The average cost in damages to the individual driver averages around $3,000.00. Drivers should definitely review their policies. Deer collisions are generally only covered under more expensive comprehensive collision plans not usually included in the state-required policies in the states that mandate them.[3] As a result, most drivers will pay out of pocket for any repairs and even those with the comprehensive collision coverage will expect to pay hefty deductibles. One thing not covered is the emotional and mental stress new debts, guilt for killing the deer and any possible injury to passengers can bring.
Profile of a Deer Collision
Timing
Deer collisions CAN and DO occur at any time of day or night. Although deer are generally diurnal, factors such as predators, migrations or food shortages will force deer on the move and possibly into traffic. That being said, statistically most accidents occur between 6 and 9 PM, when deer move to seek safe places to rest. They are also active during full moons whe it is bright enough to allow them to see.[1][3]
Seasonally, the months of October through December are the most likely ones for deer collisions. With dusk occurring earlier in the day, active deer movements coincide with the evening rush, putting more deer and automobiles in each other's paths. These three months are also the rutting season, with herds of deer coalescing into larger herds for the mating season as well as to begin migrations.[1][2][3]
Deer, despite their size, are incredibly hard to see in dim light or darkness. Their greyish, beige coats blend their bodies into the shadowy brush and grasses. Some deer have very dark coats barely visible against the road at night. The only sign a deer might be ahead is what appears to be pairs of floating eyes in the darkness, a sign to hit the brakes as the ghostly eyes are the reflections off the nictitating membranes.
The Deer
Most deer collisions involve the white-tailed or Virginia dear, Odocoileus virginianus, which ranges over most of the US and Canada in almost every type of habitat and terrain, from swamps, prairies, mountains, forests and even the Florida Keys. A population was even released in Hawai`i making deer collisions a possibility even in a Polynesian paradise.[4]
In the Rocky Mountains and points west, all the way north into Alaska, various sub-species of the mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, are more common but co-exist with white-tailed deer in muchof their range, providing two deer species to "run into." Closely related in appearance and behavior, deer range from 90 to 200 lbs., with males able to reach 400 lbs. Mule deer are the larger of the two, ranging from 100 to 220 lbs. and large bucks weighing up to 450 lbs. To put that into perspective, a large mule deer buck is equal in weight to an African gorilla, a lion of the Serengeti and some makes of motorcycles which explains the incredibly large dents they can put on a car.[4][5]
Deer in general have several adaptations from predators that do not work well with the age of the automobile. "Frozen like a deer in headlights" might be used to explain the paralysis of someone in fear, but it is a true adage when it comes to deer collisions. Drivers assuming deer will snap out of their daze will find themselves hitting one. This is because deer have evolved to go into a trance-like state to keep them as still and quiet as possible to avoid detection from lurking predators.
Deer are also prolific athletes able to reach speeds of 35 mph at considerable bursts and leap as high as eight feet into the air. Evolved to outrun predators fast on their feet such as wolves, coyotes, bears and mountain lions, a deer leaping out of the woods at such speeds leaves little reaction time for the driver, even at modest speeds through suburban areas.[6]
The Collision
There is no one type of deer collision. Many of the worst accidents involve panicked drivers swerving to avoid hitting the deer, or worse, hitting the deer which bounces off the hood into the windshield, blinding the driver who then swerves into more deer, oncoming vehicles or utility poles. Some deer break through the windshield due to the force, with antlers impaling those in the front seat.[4]
Because of their great leaping ability, deer often land on the tops or crash into the sides of vehicles when spooked or are busy in flight to notice traffic, thus impacts have been seen with all parts of vehicles. The antlers can burst tires and impale drivers whereas their large size and weight causes big dents and can knock off mirrors. The most fortunate collisions involve just a few scratches to the car and some minor bruises to a startled deer.[4]
Motorcyclists should take extra precautions as they are at greater risk from death, harm and damage from deer collisions than a typical car or truck. Lacking the metal frame of protection, most motorcycles are the same weight and size as the deer. Motorcycle drivers are also likely to be more likely thrown off their vehicle from the impact.[4][5]
Recommended by LinkedIn
Dealing with the Aftermath
After a collision with adrenaline rushing, it can be a hard time to stay focused and calm, but that should be the first order of business. If possible, the vehicle should be pulled onto the shoulder with the hazard lights on. Report the accident to the police as one would do with any accident listing any possible injuries that require immediate medical attention, the details of events, the damage and the state of the deer including whether or not it is a road hazard to other drivers.
A large deer or multiple deer can render a vehicle unsafe to operate, but it is good to check the car to make sure all the vehicle vitals are good and contact insurance and towing as needed. By no means should anyone try to approach or move the deer as it can be a serious source of injury. Flailing legs and hooves and sharp antlers can inflict pain and damage, and an injured spooked deer is likely to be erratic and prone to fight.[4]
Dear collision tips: "Buck" the trend of bad driving
The best tips are to practice safe, courteous, defensive and mindful driving. General safety measures such as using seatbelts, being mindful of weather and road conditions, politely keeping space between vehicles to allow reaction time and breaking time, paying attention to possible dangers and following the rules of the road and obeying laws of traffic are good advice for drivers at all times. Deer crossing signs are a clear indicator deer might be on the road ahead, appearing as a yellow diamond with a buck in mid-leap.[4]
Since deer collisions are most frequent at dusk and early evening, full moons and the rutting season, drivers should pay extra attention to these times by either trying to avoid these times or being cautious. If deer are spotted up ahead, best to stop and let them pass and proceeding by very slowly lest there should be any stragglers in the herd catching up. Pay attention to the silhouettes, the nictitating membranes, the sudden sound of branches crashing and be prepared to slow down and stop.[4][6]
Drivers should resist the urge to swerve to avoid the deer, which can lead to collisions with oncoming traffic, placement in ditches or deadly impacts with utility poles. Try to break, but if an impact is imminent, the best advice is to let go of the break just before impact. Breaking causes the front of the car to dip down, increasing the chance of deer bouncing into the windshield causing even more dangerous driving conditions and risk of injury.[3][4]
Deer whistles seem to offer some limited protection to drivers by making noises deer can hear, especially with all the ultra-quiet electric and hybrid vehicles, but deer do not always react to the sound. Ultimately, although they may offer some benefit, they are no substitute for good and careful driving.[7]
Factors leading to increased deer collisions
Although it is a wonder that deer collisions are not more frequent, they are slowly on the rise for several reasons and that is the growth in population. The US population of humans is now at 331 million, of which 287 million are licensed drivers with registered vehicles on the road and constantly growing due to natural growth and immigration. The population of deer stands at 35 million and it too is growing.[1][2][3]
The main thing pushing the numbers higher is development and the construction of roads that come with it. As development expands further and further into pristine areas, it puts people into contact with deer. New roads disrupt migration patterns, become tempting routes to travel during winter snows when plowed and increase crossing points. Developed areas, due to higher population densities, also usually limit hunting restrictions.
Since hunting has extirpated the natural predators of deer such as the wolf, coyote, bear and mountain lion or they have been deterred from areas due to development, deer populations are expanding at rapid rates lacking predators or hunting pressures. New farms, golf courses, parks, grassy lawns and disturbed forest provide the grasses deer spend their time grazing on. With such large numbers, herds are growing larger and as food resources are depleted, deer keep moving in search of it.[8]
What is being done to prevent deer collisions
In some communities that have banned hunting due to population ordinances or local decisions have invited hunters to periodically cull the deer populations to bring numbers back to historic levels, prevent the decimation of vegetated areas and prevent the masses of starving deer from desperately wandering in search of food into traffic. Although some people oppose the measure, even many environmentalists support the measures due to the damage the over-abundance of deer have caused to remaining forest areas and to maintain the strength of the herds. Hunters have been eager to help, often rewarded with generous quotas and even being able to take large-sized does as well as temporarily removing restrictions on donating the venison to charities.[8]
US highways have also experimented with using fences to prevent deer jumping into the highway, although it also disrupts deer movements and may increase crossing frequencies where the fences stop. It is not the most effective option, but the fences have helped keep high-trafficked areas safer and the fences are the most cost-effective solution. Less utilized, but quite effective, are corridors that allow deer to pass such as wide raised bridges, fenced of course, that deer can cross busy highways, or tunnel underpasses. These options are very expensive to implement and are unfeasible in many of the open, rural areas where deer collisions occur.[9]
Conclusion
Deer are majestic animals that have been revered for their amazing abilities to leap away from predators at great speeds in insurmountable terrain, their strength and virility when males engage in battle in the rutting season with their large antlers on display. It is this power and celebrated strength that makes them worthy of respect. Deer fed mankind since time immemorial, with clothing, blankets, pins, fishhooks, beads and sinews for bowstrings fashioned from its skin and bones. Although taken carelessly by cars, for hunters, the keen senses of the deer and its great speed make hunting it a sport.[10]
Deer, whether white-tailed or mule, are a danger of country roads and a collision or a more fortunate near collision a daily occurrence that grows as people and deer grow in number and increasingly find each other in closer proximity. There is little that can be done to stop this collision of man in car and deer. It is worse for the deer as of the 1.5 million deer collisions, 1 million deer every year from the collisions. The only thing that can be done is for drivers to be aware and be as careful as can be to prevent a deer being a costly and potentially deadly hood ornament.
References