UPT IME
Ready For DVC Season?
It’s that time of year again when
deer-vehicle collisions are on the rise.
The likelihood of colliding with a
deer more than doubles during the
months of October, November and
December. Th at is when deer are most
active, because it is their migration
and mating season.
As such, there is a substantial
increase in the movement of the deer
population. Th at puts more deer in
roadways than at any other time of year.
Consequently, more deer-vehicle
collisions (DVCs) occur within this
three-month period than at any other
time of year.
Collisions can be Costly
Whether a vehicle hits a deer or it
jumps into the side of a vehicle, such
collisions can cause signifi cant injuries
and property damage.
Th e Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety (IIHS) estimates there are some
1.5 million DVCs annually in the U.S.,
causing more than 150 vehicle occupant
fatalities, tens of thousands of
injuries and more than $1 billion in
vehicle damage.
IIHS (www.iihs.org) is an independent,
nonprofi t scientifi c and educational
organization dedicated to
reducing the losses – deaths, injuries
and property damage – from motor
vehicle crashes.
There are also the costs from
unscheduled vehicle downtime,
unplanned vehicle repair and the loss
of fl eet and shop productivity.
Safety Measures
Most deer-vehicle accidents occur
during the night, or anytime between
dusk and dawn. Th at is because deer
are nocturnal animals and spend
most of their time foraging during
these periods.
While not all deer-vehicle collisions
can be prevented, safety offi cials say
there are steps that drivers can take to
help avoid them. Be sure to disseminate
this information to your staff ,
drivers and all other employees to
help them avoid a DVC.
Th e most eff ective way to avoid
deer-vehicle collisions is through
attentive driving behavior, the offi -
cials point out. Th ey note that driver
reaction usually dictates the severity
of such accidents.
8 Fleet Maintenance | October 2017
Best Practices
Safety offi cials off er this additional
advice to help keep drivers safe and
minimize the chances of colliding
with a deer when driving:
Heed deer crossing signs. Decrease
vehicle speed in these areas and
drive with extra caution. Th e sooner
a deer is seen on or approaching a
roadway, the better the chance of
avoiding a crash.
Be especially watchful in areas
near woods, farmlands, water and
areas known to have a large deer
population. When driving through
these areas, keep eyes moving and
continually glance to both sides of
the road.
Do not rely on devices such as deer
whistles, deer fences and refl ectors
to deter deer, as these devices have
not proven eff ective.
At night, use high-beam headlights
because they better illuminate the
edges of the road where deer may
linger. Look for the refl ection of
light in a deer’s eyes. If you see eyes
refl ected in your headlights, slow
down immediately.
Headlights tend to hypnotize deer
when a vehicle approaches. If a
deer is spotted, be alert, slow down
quickly and sound the horn to try
and scare it away.
Be prepared to stop if necessary.
If deer are near the road, use the
emergency fl ashers to alert other
drivers of their presence.
Keep in mind that if one deer is
spotted, more are usually nearby.
Deer oft en travel in groups and in
a single fi le line.
Deer are unpredictable in their
movements, especially when
confronted with glaring headlights,
blaring horns and moving vehicles.
Be prepared for the unexpected.
Do not assume to know how a deer
will react. Deer may dart suddenly in
front of you, stop in the middle of the
road, double back to the side of the
road where they came from or rush
across to the other side of the road.
If a collision with a deer seems inevitable,
brake fi rmly and attempt to
stop. Do not swerve to avoid the
deer as vehicle control may be lost,
increasing the risk of injury due to
hitting another vehicle or a fi xed
object like a tree.
If a deer is struck, stay away from
it. It may just be stunned and could
become very aggressive if aroused.
A frightened and wounded deer
can hurt you or further injure
itself. Report the accident to local
law enforcement or to the Game
Commission.
By David A.
Kolman
Editor
» This is the season when there is a
sizeable increase in the movement
of the deer population, and that
appreciably increases the chances
for deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs).
While not all such accidents can
be prevented, drivers can take
certain steps to help avoid them.
Photo from iStock
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By The
Numbers
1.5
million
Deer-vehicle
collisions
(DVCs) annually
in the U.S.
More than
150
vehicle occupant
fatalities
$1 billion
in vehicle
damage