LANCASTER, Wis. -- Sgt. Nathan Dreckman, of the Grant County Sheriff's Department, and Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley know all about deer-vehicle collisions. And they want area motorists to know, too. It's that time of the year.
Wisconsin law enforcement agencies reported 15,821 deer vs. vehicle crashes last year. Deer are the third most commonly struck object in Wisconsin traffic crashes (behind collisions with another vehicle or a fixed object).
In 2008, an estimated 7,254 drivers reported collisions with deer in Iowa, causing nine motorist deaths and an estimated 442 motorist injuries. According to State Farm Insurance Co., Iowa ranks fourth in the likelihood of a motorist hitting a deer, behind West Virginia, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
In 2008, Illinois reported 24,212 deer-vehicle collisions, a drop of 814 accidents compared to 2007 reported accidents, according to the Department of Transportation.
Dreckman was training a fellow officer in southern Grant County when a deer struck a southbound SUV on U.S. 151/61/Wisconsin 35 near Kieler. The
deer alert |
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* Be on the lookout for deer, eliminate distractions while driving, and slow down in early morning and evening hours -- the most active time for deer. * Always wear your safety belt -- there are fewer and less severe injuries in vehicle-deer crashes when safety belts are worn. * If you see a deer by the side of the road, slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away. * When you see one deer, look for another one -- deer seldom run alone. * If you see a deer looming in your headlights, don't expect the deer to move away -- headlights can confuse a deer and cause the animal to freeze. * Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path. * Do not swerve -- it can confuse the deer as to where to run -- and cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car. * The one exception to the "don't swerve" advice applies to motorcyclists. On a motorcycle, you should slow down, brake firmly and then swerve if necessary to avoid hitting the deer. If you must swerve, always try to stay within your lane to avoid hitting other objects. * If you hit a deer, get your vehicle off the road if possible, and then call a law enforcement agency. Walking on a highway is dangerous, so stay in your vehicle if you can. Source: Wisconsin Department of Transportation |
"Nobody was injured," Dreckman said, "but they were pretty shook up -- there were young kids in the car. It was early dusk, just starting to get dark out. And it happened in May or June, so it happens year-round."
Last Wednesday's Grant County Sheriff's Department report logged six deer-vehicle collisions in a little more than two-hours time frame -- from 5:10 a.m. to 7:27 a.m. It prompted the department to issue a news release, noting deputies had investigated 67 vehicle vs. deer crashes in the month of October alone. There's less daylight, farm traffic is increasing on rural roads, and deer are on the move -- in the rut (mating mode).
"It is serious enough that people really have to be careful," Dreckman said, citing the morning hours from around 5:30 to 8. "It's partly due to deer moving, people start to go to work and there's more traffic. Sometimes there's haze or fog."
Deer crashes follow time-of-day patterns based on the season. In October to January, they were most common between 5 p.m. and midnight and from 5 to 7 a.m.
"People need to be aware of the ditch line and what could come out," Dreckman said.
Dreckman's best advice is simple: Don't swerve to avoid a deer.
"A more serous accident can happen, especially if you swerve into the oncoming lane," he said. "It's not a big animal that's going to come up through a windshield. Most hit the vehicle's side or a front corner.
"Too many people panic and either go in the other lane, a ditch or gravel. A car is replaceable and can be fixed. People getting hurt is the worst. Everybody loves animals, but that's not a reason to risk your life."
Pedley recalled hitting a deer in 1981 with his squad car. He was en route to a serious traffic accident and doing about 90 mph. That he still remembers it is significant.
In Lafayette County last year, there were 17 deer-vehicle crashes in September, 46 in October, 45 in November and 14 in December.
Pedley points out the deer-caution signs posted on state and federal highways are there for a reason.
"It's been demonstrated through history that deer are prone to move through there," he said, advising motorists it's a good idea to reduce their speed by five to 10 mph to boost sight distances and increase reaction time.
It's also a good idea, Pedley adds, to make use of the vehicle's high-beam headlights.
"You don't want to blind an oncoming driver, but it's a defense for deer and the potential hazards," he said.
Like Grant County, Lafayette County's recent law enforcement log is peppered with deer-vehicle crash notations.
"November will be worse," Pedley said. "In our region, there must be thousands of deer. This is all great business for body shops and towing services, but the reality is, there's an average of $2,000 to $3,000 per vehicle property damage."
