AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning that October, November and December are the worst months for animal collisions. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in your vehicle, or even total it.
Last year, Delaware State Police reported over 1200 animal-vehicle crashes in the First State, up 17 percent from 2013. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Jim Lardear says drivers need to be aware of the danger.
"One of the most important things at this time of year is especially being vigilant and not distracted when you’re driving on rural roads, wooded roads. And especially being during the commuting times which are going to correspond, especially when it gets dark, increasingly with deer activity," Lardear said.
If a deer-vehicle collision is unavoidable, Lardear adds, it’s best not to swerve out of your lane because you may lose control of the vehicle. Try braking instead, he says. One long blast on your horn, he adds, could scare the deer off.
The safest way to protect yourself is to always wear a seatbelt. Also, he says, slow down around curves and be mindful that if you see one deer, you’ll likely see more.
Deer tend to be most active between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and during the late afternoon and early evening.
