Drivers must beware of deer

Transportation officials are urging drivers to look out for deer on the roads as the peak season for animal collisions begins.

October, November and December are the biggest months for animal crashes, the majority of which involve deer, state officials say.

Last year more than 17,000 accidents involved animals, and typically 90 percent of those involve deer, according to the State Department of Transportation.

From 2004 to 2006, the department found that animal wrecks caused nearly 3,000 injuries to people -- 17 of which were fatal -- and more than $100 million in property damage.

Wake and Johnston were among the top five counties for deer collisions during that time. Wake was first with 2,637 incidents, and Johnston was fifth with 1,249 incidents.

The more than a million deer in the state are on the move during the fall months because of the confluence of hunting season, mating season, cooler weather and the scattering of young male deer seeking a new place to live.

Here are some tips to avoid collisions with deer:

* Use extra caution during the worst months and the worst times of day -- 6 p.m. to midnight and 5 to 7 a.m.

* Slow down along posted deer crossings and when traveling through heavily wooded areas.

* Scan both sides of the road, watching for deer eyes reflected in headlights, and use high beams when possible.

* Remember that deer are herd animals -- where one is seen, others are likely to be present.

* If a deer collision is imminent, don't swerve. Experts think 77 percent of human fatalities result from a motorist losing control of a vehicle while trying to avoid a deer.

* Wear a seat belt, and don't put much faith in "deer whistles" or other devices.

* If you see an injured deer, don't approach it.