Deer Crossing

Unfortunately, deer after all this time, still haven’t learned to use a marked crosswalk. Until they do, we will have to be on the lookout for these animals on the road. A run-in with a deer could not only kill the unassuming animal, but it could also kill you! Here’s what to do to try and avoid an accident.

The most active times for deer is dusk and dawn. If you’re on the road at these times, be extra cautious. Keep an eye out for warnings from road signs. These are put up in heavily populated areas. If you see a deer, even if it’s not on the road… be careful, there is almost always more than one. Honking is always a good way to let them know you’re there. You should always be wearing your seatbelt and going the posted speed limit and deer are just one of the reasons why. If you see a deer, slow down. Also, if there is no oncoming traffic, use your high beams. The more you can illuminate the road, the safer you’ll be. If a deer is in your lane, slow down and stop (if you can). Swerving puts you at more risk to hit other vehicles or other deer. Deer are kind of dicey, they have no rhyme or reason when they start jumping around, so you want to stay put. As much as I love animals, a human life trump’s a deer’s life. Sometimes there is no choice but to hit a deer.

If you have the misfortune of making contact with a deer, pull over. Put your hazards on. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance. If everyone is okay… I know your first instinct may be to check on the injured deer… Don’t! They can be very dangerous. Stay in your vehicle. Call the police.

Even the most cautious drivers may have a run-in with a deer. The most important thing is to stay calm and don’t panic. Deer are unavoidable in Canada so we need to stay alert and stay safe.