Watch Out! Deer Season is here
- 2 November, 2016
As the leaves change and the holiday season buzz begins, it becomes deer prime time. Most deer and vehicle accidents take place in the October-December months. Those months are migration and mating season for deer, which means they are more active during that time. This problem is compounded with the rise in Deer population in the past few years.
According to the NHTSA, there are 1.6 million deer and vehicle accidents every year in the United States. This staggering number of collisions totals out to over $4 billion dollars in damages, not including the downtown and productivity that trucking companies incur.
Over the years devices and gimmicks like deer whistles and reflectors have been used to deter accidents but have been ineffective in reducing collisions. The best way to avoid or to reduce the severity of a deer-truck collision comes down to the driver’s alertness and reaction to an impending collision.
Here is a list of tips to keep your chances of a deer collision to a minimum:
– Use your high beams at night to illuminate the sides of the road where deer may reside.
– Look for the light reflected off the deer’s eyes.
– Be wary, bright headlights can have a hypnotizing effect on the deer
– If a deer is spotted, slow down and sound the horn. Be wary that deer often travel in packs
– Headlights and the sound of horns can sometimes cause deer to react in an unpredictable nature.
– If a collision is imminent, apply firm brake pressure and do not attempt to swerve to avoid hitting the deer. Swerving can cause the driver to lose control over the truck, which can cause greater harm to the driver and others.
– Grill guards can be added to the front of the truck to help reduce damage if a collision occurs, potentially saving the driver and trucking company from unnecessary downtime.
For more tips for drivers, visit our blog at ac-an.com! Join forces with Arab Cartage and Agent National. Email dispatch@ac-an.com or call 1-800-423-0478 to learn how we can meet your transportation, logistics, and warehousing needs. We look forward to hearing from you!