It's not your imagination; there are definitely more deer around the DMV roads right now.
We're in the middle of rutting season, and that means our local deer population is in a hormone-driven frenzy and couldn't care less about traffic.
In Maryland, they say "don't veer for deer!" and the Fairfax County Police Department agrees. Drivers should be alert and slow down if they spot deer near the road. In the three months of October, November, and December, the DMV will experience about 50 percent of all annual deer-related auto accidents. In a recent blog post, Fairfax County Police had the following tips:
- Avoid distractions like texting while driving.
- Always wear your seatbelt.
- Slow down if you spot a deer, and flash your lights if one is standing in the middle of the road.
- Never swerve to try to avoid a deer or other animal. You are bound to have a worse collision if you hit another car, tree, or utility pole.
- If a crash is imminent, take your foot off the brake to reduce the chance of a head-on hit through the windshield or windows.
- If you do hit a deer or other animal, report the accident to a law enforcement official where the accident occurred. In Fairfax County, call the non-emergency police line at (703) 691-2131.
Courtesy of Unsplash
Deer feed and are more active in the early morning and early evening hours. Be on guard at those times, especially down poorly lit roadways. For more information about road safety during rutting season, view the full Fairfax County Police blog post.
Have you had a deer-related accident or near hit? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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