Watch Out For Deer While Driving
There are a lot of deer in New Vrindavan, and deer/car collisions are common. The following is excerpted from Wildlife: Ways to steer clear of deer. Click through to read the whole article.
November means many things to many people. To hunters, it’s deer season — the highlight of the year. To the rest of the world, it’s the most dangerous time of year to drive because November is when deer-vehicle collisions peak.
“If you’ve never hit a deer with your car, consider yourself lucky. But my insurance agent, Mark Crow, makes this observation about driving in rural West Virginia: ‘It’s not if you hit a deer, it’s when you hit one.’… ”
So, be careful, and keep these tips in mind:
Deer are everywhere. You’re as likely to encounter one on a city street as on a rural interstate.
Deer behave unpredictably. When you see one up ahead, slow down and expect it to cross the road in front of you.
Deer are social and often move in groups. If you see one cross the road, expect several more to follow.
“Be especially cautious between dusk and dawn.
“When there’s no oncoming traffic, use high beams. They will illuminate the eyes of deer on the side of the road.
“If you see a deer on the road ahead of you, brake firmly, but stay in your lane. If you swerve to avoid a 120-pound deer, you may hit an on-coming 3,000-pound vehicle or lose control of the car.
“Don’t rely on deer whistles; research has shown they have no effect on deer behavior.
“If there are young, inexperienced drivers in the family, have them read this column.”
