Drivers told 'heed deer warning signs'
Date: 23/05/2008 15:00:09
Drivers have been advised to pay close attention to deer warning signs after research revealed the animals are
most often involved in accidents during May.
The AA said motorists are 25 per cent more likely to be in an accident caused by a deer at this time of year,
which is when younger animals leave breeding sites.
Drivers are being warned that car insurance
claims are not the only outcome, with around 150 people killed or injured in deer collisions every year.
AA head of road safety Andrew Howard said drivers who find an animal caught in the headlights face an "impossible"
dilemma.
He said: "Do they swerve and risk a more serious crash or do they suffer the trauma of killing a deer and
damaging their cars?"
Mr Howard added motorists can minimise the chances of a crash by paying attention to deer warning signs and driving at speeds that will give them time to react.
The National Deer-Vehicle Collisions Project says peaks in deer-related traffic collisions are seen in October through
December, followed by May.