Fall means deer crashes.
Southern Virginia has higher insurance rates because of deer and vehicle collisions.
There are ways to avoid vehicular damage with deer while driving around Chatham.
Most of the roads around Chatham are in the country and heavily wooded areas, so encounters with deer are common.
The autumn season is when deer accidents are most common because the animals are in mating season and very active impulsive; the risk of encountering one of these fleet-footed animals is much higher.
Although an encounter can seem inevitable, there are ways to prevent a collision and to mitigate the effects should one occur.
One of the easiest and most avoidable ways to avoid a collision with a deer is to not be a distracted driver.
Drivers using cell phones significantly increase the risk of hitting a deer since the driver will have a slower reaction time.
Do not speed; this also affects drivers’ reaction times.
Experts also recommend keeping high beams on to better illuminate deer on the edges of the road.
In the event that a deer does appear in front of your vehicle, there are a few tips that can help.
Deer have the tendency to freeze when caught in bright light, which can be a major cause of collisions.
A single, long blast from a car’s horn can help startle a deer into running out of the road, but is not guaranteed.
One of the most important rules is to not swerve. Swerving to avoid a deer can lead to a much worse collision rather than hitting the deer itself.
Drivers can quickly lose control of their vehicles and hit oncoming traffic or veer off the road, both of which are far more dangerous and expensive.
Experts recommend firmly applying the brakes to minimize the damage to your vehicle.
