Deer automobile crashes between October and December jumped to a brand new excessive in Massachusetts final 12 months, as AAA reminds drivers that it’s peak season for deer collisions with the animals darting throughout roadways.
In 2021, deer crashes in these three months leapt to 1,656, which is the very best reported quantity on file since 2002, in keeping with a AAA Northeast evaluation of crash knowledge out there from the state’s IMPACT crash portal.
That’s a bounce of 254 deer collisions — or an 18% spike — from the 1,402 deer crashes throughout the Bay State between October and December in 2020.
“Hitting a deer can have traumatic and devastating consequences and drivers need to be especially vigilant at this time of year,” mentioned Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast VP of Public and Government Affairs. “The greatest protection in opposition to deer crashes is to be ready and alert.
“Last year, I struck a deer on a curvy road on a dark night close to my home,” she added. “Fortunately, I was driving fairly slowly, but I still managed to cause $6,000 in damage to my car. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you — when you least expect it.”
Deer crashes peak in autumn as a result of it’s deer mating season, which implies they’re on the transfer at nightfall and daybreak, identical to commuters driving between work and residential. It’s a recipe for probably severe crashes, significantly as a result of visibility decreases within the fall as every dawn is later and sundown is sooner.
The 1,656 deer collisions through the peak season final 12 months is equal to at least one deer crash each 80 minutes — with a lot of the crashes occurring round sundown, which aligns with the afternoon commute and is heightened by the top of daylight saving time.
According to AAA Northeast’s knowledge, the highest Bay State cities for reported deer crashes from October via December final 12 months have been Middleboro (33 deer collisions), Westport (32), Taunton (31), and Swansea (22).
The prime counties for reported deer collisions have been Bristol (282), Middlesex (277), Worcester (261), Plymouth (230), and Essex (139).
So what steps ought to drivers take to hopefully keep away from hitting deer whereas out on the roads? Here are some security suggestions from AAA:
- Scan the shoulders of the street in entrance of you. Deer might sprint out from the shoulder or wooded areas subsequent to the street.
- Follow the velocity restrict. Keeping your velocity down gives you extra time to answer surprising wildlife actions.
- Be cautious rounding curves and climbing hills the place visibility is hard.
- One lengthy blast in your horn might frighten animals away out of your automobile when you spy them early sufficient.
- If you see one deer, look out for others. Deer not often journey alone.
- Use your excessive beams alongside darkish roads if there’s no oncoming site visitors.
- If a collision is unavoidable, hit the brakes laborious and attempt to stay in your lane and keep away from different automobiles. Swerving sharply may cause an much more severe crash.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”