DOT Warns: June Marks High Deer-Vehicle Accidents

by Jennifer Smith May 31, 2018

Department of Transportation personnel warn drivers that June spikes a rise in deer-vehicle collisions.

Maybe it's because June is the kick-off of summer, or perhaps it's because deer movement is on the rise as they search for food, but for whatever reason deer and cars seem to mash and cause serious injury.

In Canada during the year 2000, there were nearly 29,000 animal-vehicle collisions resulting in property damage only, an additional 1,887 involving non-fatal injuries, and 23 fatal collisions.

If an animal pulls out in front of a car, drivers should not veer away from the animal to avoid hurting it. Instead, they need to smoothly lower the speed of the vehicle and remain in a straight line. Drivers that try to avoid hitting animals often hit light poles; go off road; or hit other vehicles.

DOT personnel are encouraged to install 7.5-8' high deer fencing along major intersections and highways in Canada to reduce the number of animal-vehicle collisions this summer.