Motor vehicle accidents involving deer have been more frequent recently, according to various reports from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.
In just under a week, deputies have responded to seven accidents involving deer. Many of them on the county’s major highways.
All but one occurred between the hours of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. No injuries have been reported.
The increase comes as the height of the deer rutting season approaches in mid November. That season is underway now, will peak around Nov. 15 and can continue into January.
K-State Research and Extension provides the following tips for driving safely during rutting season.
- Slow down — particularly during dawn and dusk. Not only are deer more active during these low light periods, but traffic increases as well, as more people are traveling to and from work.
- If you see a deer cross the road ahead of you, be prepared to stop. Deer often travel in small groups. If you see one, there are usually more nearby.
- If a deer is spotted in the roadway, try honking your horn and flashing your lights to get it to move.
- If a collision is unavoidable, try not to swerve out of the way.
- It is better to hit the deer squarely head-on. Many drivers suffer death or serious injury when they veer into oncoming traffic or into a fixed object, like a tree or telephone pole, when trying to avoid a deer.
- Wear a seat belt — you have a much better chance of walking away from a collision with a deer if you and all your passengers are wearing seat belts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that 60 percent of the people killed riding in vehicles weren’t using safety belts.
- If you strike a deer, drive to a safe location and call law enforcement officials. Do not walk on roadways.
- Heed deer crossing and speed limit signs.
- Drive carefully in areas known to have high deer populations and in areas where you have seen deer before. Deer have regular travel patterns. If you have seen them previously in an area, they will most likely pass through that area again.
