Is there a workable way for long-distance drivers to reduce the risk of deer-related road accidents or do you just pray one doesn’t jump in front of your car?

23 comments

1. Don’t drive about 6-9 pm (or be super alert). Also, if you see a deer anywhere — slow down, there’s probably others.

2. Not that I can think of, except for not driving during certain times.

3. Pre-Dawn/dawn and dusk/post-dusk are the worst parts of the day for deer strikes.

   If you are concerned you can greatly reduce the likelihood of an incident by not traveling during those times.

4. They have deer whistles you can install on your vehicle. Not sure how effective they are.

5. The best thing you can do is be aware that deer are largely crepuscular creatures who mostly come out during the dawn and dusk hours and watch for them during those times. Secondly, driving with your brights on (assuming no one else is near you) allows you to see the reflections of their eyes earlier. I have noticed that deer are more common in very specific areas where I live, so I am particularly wary when driving through those parts.

6. dimming any interior lights in your car as much as you can will increase your ability to see when driving on dark rural highways. get rid of as much phone/screen light as possible. be on the look out for the reflections in their eyes on the side of the road. slow down if you see anything that could be a deer.

7. Coming from a rural area in Illinois, the biggest times to pay close attention are in spots where there is tall corn or woods right up to the road-side. In those spots you really need to be on guard because you do not get a chance to see the glint of their eyes in your peripheral vision before they dart out into the road. It’s also important to keep an extra eye out around deer season, especially shotgun (or rifle if they have it in your part of the country) season. The deer are extra skittish and moving around much more during that time of the year.

   Other than paying attention and not speeding on country roads, it’s pretty much just luck. It’s also a good idea to remember to brake but not swerve. Many people end up in worse situations because they try to swerve to miss the deer. They end up flipping their car or slapping into a tree or utility pole instead of just hitting the deer.

8. Drive during the day, they are nocturnal.

   Don’t drive on rural roads.

   If you see one cross the road assume that others are about to follow. They rarely travel alone, usually in groups of three or four.

9. Better enforcement of traffic laws. The deer should be ticketed for jaywalking when they don’t cross at the deer crossing signs.

10. As a American I generally use the kinetic energy producing device of 6.2 freedom liters of displacement to propel my 4415 pound deer vaporizing device that looks suspiciously like a dodge hellcat.

11. Drive a truck with a big bumper

12. I read something that said areas with wolves and deer had fewer deer related car accidents because the deer avoided the roads to not be seen by wolves.

13. if you see one, there’s more

14. Have functional brakes and headlights, always be vigilant, and know when and where deer are likely to cross.

    Long-distance has nothing to do with it, my sister once hit a deer driving home from school.

15. Distance really doesn’t have anything to do with it, I’ve seen people hit a deer right outside of town. Just driving long distances gives more opportunity for it happen.

    If you’re like me and you live rural and have long commutes to work you’re going to see them. I would love to be able to do like some people suggest and not drive at dawn or dusk or in the dark but that’s not possible.

    You just have to be super vigilant, to drive under the speed limit, especially at night. Turn down your interior lights to help with your night vision, make sure your headlights are properly aligned and as the lenses start to get fogged up or faded to get them cleaned. Also don’t drive too close to the person in front of you and definitely don’t tailgate.

16. Not even long distance. We hit one going 20 miles away

17. Paying attention and scanning your eyes from side to side is the best advice I have. I’ve managed to not hit one in 20 years of driving now. Maybe I’m just lucky.

18. My old man always told me to aim for their ass since they’ll be running out of the way

19. I grew up in Wisconsin, where there’s no shortage of deer. In Driver’s Ed, we were taught that if there’s a deer on the road and you can’t stop in time, it’s better to hit it than to swerve.

20. Do not drive near dawn and dusk.

21. I live in rural Northern Michigan. We just kind of accept it’s not if you hit a deer, but when. Good lights and paying attention certainly help avoid deer. Also once you get to know the area, you have a decent enough idea of where you’re more likely to encounter a deer as well.

22. At least here in Washington there’s kind of an unspoken rule that if you see a deer you start flashing your lights so the next car knows, other than that you just kind of hope you don’t run into one.

23. Stay alert, don’t be distracted and be aware of the hours that the herds move.