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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
News Raleigh, Wake County, you can top this list!
Posted By Cheris Hodges on Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 10:17 AM
In a news flash from UNC Highway Research Study Center, it seems that deer and cars are meeting more frequently on the roads these days.
Where are you most likely to slam into a deer? Raleigh--er--Wake County.
Here's the deal:
Deer crashes in North Carolina near 20,000 in 2007
CHAPEL HILL – Motor-vehicle crashes involving deer last year on North Carolina roadways jumped to 19,277, up from 17,236 in 2006.
Of the total reported automobile crashes in North Carolina in 2007, deer were cited as a factor in 8.6 percent, up from 7.8 percent in 2006. Wake County topped the list with 1129 deer-related crashes. Other counties with high deer crashes include Guilford, Rockingham, Duplin and Pitt.
“We’ve not only seen an increase in the number of deer-related crashes overall, but also in the number of fatal crashes,” said David Harkey, director of the UNC Highway Safety Research Center. “In 2007, there were 11 fatal crashes related to deer compared to 3 in 2006.”
While a crash involving a deer can happen at any time, drivers should be particularly careful both in the early morning hours and the early evening hours. Almost 80 percent of deer-related crashes in 2007 occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
White-tailed deer can be seen on the move around North Carolina roadways at any time of the year. Yet 48 percent of all deer-related crashes in North Carolina occurred during the months of October, November and December. Deer are particularly restless and agitated during these months due to both mating season and hunting season.
The UNC Highway Safety Research Center offers the following tips for lowering your risk of a crash with a deer.
* Slow down! In areas with a large deer population, or where there are deer warning signs, drivers should reduce their speed.
* Always wear your seat belt! It's your best protection from injuries in the event of a crash.
* Watch for eyes reflecting in your headlights. Try to look far down the road and scan the roadsides, especially when driving through field edges, heavily wooded areas, or posted deer crossing areas. The sooner you see a deer on or approaching a road, the better your chances of avoiding a crash.
* Remember that deer travel in herds. If you see one deer cross the road in front of you, don't assume that all is clear. Deer herds can be fairly large, and the animals often move one right behind the other.
* Do not place confidence in "deer whistles" or other "ultra-sonic" devices that claim to prevent deer collisions.
* Maintain control of your vehicle. It is important that you not lose control of your vehicle or veer into the path of an oncoming vehicle to avoid contact with an animal. Loss of control usually results in a more serious crash
I know first hand what a deer can do to a car. Sadly, a mere six months after I got my dream car, Bambi jumped in front of it and fucked it up.
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