Watch out for deer on roads, highways at night

Each year, car collisions with deer account for more than 150 human and nearly 1.5 million deer fatalities. October through December is the high season for the crashes, since it is a time when deer are mating and migrating and daylight hours are shortened.

"Drivers need to be particularly cautious with the season's shortened daylight and deer foraging near roadsides. It's a very dangerous combination," said Ray Palermo, director of public relations for national car insurer Response Insurance. "To compound it, more drivers are on the road at dawn and dusk, the very times of day when deer are most active."

An adult deer can weigh more than 200 pounds, and a car striking one can result not only in the death of the deer but also in damages to the vehicle of, on average, $2,000. Palermo suggested a few basic cautions for drivers:

+Scan a wide swath of the roadside. Slow down when approaching a deer standing near the side of a road, and be prepared. If startled, deer can bolt onto the

roadway and into the path of a car. Honk the horn and flash the lights to try to scare it away.

+Be alert for more deer than visible at the moment. Where there is one deer, there are often more nearby.

+In many instances, it is best not to swerve around the deer since it may move in the same direction, or there may be oncoming cars or dangerous shoulders. It is best to brake and continue slowly in the same lane of traffic.

+Be careful at dawn and dusk and when driving over hills or around curves where visibility is limited. Using high beams provides a greater area of visibility and a better reflection from the deer's eyes.

+Deer whistles or ultrasonic deer avoidance systems attached to vehicles have never been proven to work and may give drivers a false sense of security.

+Take deer crossing signs seriously, particularly those installed specifically for this time of year. Be cautious in wooded and agricultural areas where there is little distance between the road and the woods.

A free brochure is available. Call (800) 610-5928, or download it at www.Response.com.