Drivers should be on the lookout for deer on the roads in coming weeks and be particularly cautious on road journeys at dawn and dusk, the times when deer are most active. Estimates from the RSPCA1 indicate that up to 74,000 deer are killed each year in road collisions, with an annual human death toll from deer collisions of between 10 and 20 and around 450 serious injuries. The total vehicle repair bill from deer collisions is estimated at more than £17 million. Advice provided by the British Deer Society advise that if you spot a deer or other animal on the road ahead, stay in control, reduce your speed as much as possible and steer straight. With the deer breeding season lasting into early November extra caution is advised at dusk and dawn.
The Editor’s View
