Oh Deer!

Ok, I read this press release a little while ago (October) and was going to post it before Christmas but as always real life gets in the way and simply forgot until now! Should have done it before Christmas …

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) in the US report that there are 1.6 million deer collisions every year from October onwards. Despite the company’s name it’s not related to any government so is ambiguous. Anyway they advise the following:

“Motorists who see a deer in the middle of the road should not swerve to avoid it. This manoeuvre could scare and confuse the animal, causing it to dart in front of the vehicle. Even worse, the driver could lose control and roll over or veer into oncoming traffic. Braking firmly, giving the deer a chance to move out of the way is a safer course of action. Drivers who see a deer farther down the road should first slow down, then flash their high beams and sound their horn to make the animal move.

In the event of a deer collision, drivers should notify police and call 911 if any vehicle occupants sustain injuries. Do not touch or get close to the animal, as it may be seriously injured and could behave frantically, causing a safety risk.”

 The advice applies to other animals including humans, so be careful out there.