- Deer-vehicle collisions peak from October to December, as rutting activity and darker journeys combine.
- Up to 74,000 deer may be involved in road collisions in Britain each year, with hundreds of people injured and up to 20 fatalities.
- GEM says drivers who spot one deer should expect more, reduce speed and avoid a sudden swerve.
ROAD SAFETY organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to be especially alert for deer on UK roads over the coming weeks, as the autumn rut coincides with darker evenings and peak commuting times.
Deer are more active at this time of year, particularly at dawn, dusk and in the hours around sunset. For many drivers, that means the journey home is now more likely to overlap with the periods when deer are moving between feeding, shelter and breeding areas.
The risk is not confined to remote rural lanes. Deer can appear unexpectedly on A-roads, dual carriageways and roads on the edge of towns and cities, particularly near woodland, open land and known crossing points.
Estimates from the British Deer Society suggest that more than 40,000 deer are killed or injured on UK roads each year, with the true figure potentially closer to 74,000. Deer-related collisions also result in numerous human injuries and several fatalities annually. The RSPCA estimates that vehicle damage alone costs at least £17 million each year.
Collision risk is known to rise through the autumn, with national peaks from October to December. The combination of rutting activity, shorter daylight hours and busy roads at dawn and dusk makes this one of the year’s most hazardous periods for deer-vehicle collisions.
GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “The next few weeks bring a predictable seasonal risk, but it is one that can catch drivers out on even familiar roads.
“Deer can emerge from cover with very little warning, and darker evening journeys reduce the time available to react. We want drivers to recognise the risk, reduce speed where deer may be present and keep scanning the road and verges ahead.
“If a deer runs into your path, your priority must be to remain in control. Brake firmly if it is safe to do so, but avoid a sudden swerve. A sharp change of direction can put you into the path of an oncoming vehicle, take you off the road or lead to a much more serious collision.
“And if you see one deer, assume there may be more. Deer often travel in groups, so the first animal may not be the last to cross.”
GEM’s advice for drivers
- Slow down and stay alert: Take particular care where deer warning signs are displayed, on roads beside woodland or open countryside, and when travelling in poor light.
- Expect deer at dawn and dusk: The highest-risk periods are from sunset to midnight and in the hours shortly before and after sunrise.
- See one, look for more: Deer commonly move in groups, so reduce speed and do not accelerate again until you are sure the road and verges are clear.
- Use headlights wisely: Use full beam where it is safe and legal to do so, but dip headlights if you see a deer. Bright lights may cause an animal to freeze in the carriageway rather than move away.
- Do not swerve: If a collision appears unavoidable, concentrate on braking safely and keeping the vehicle under control. Swerving into oncoming traffic, roadside furniture or a ditch can have more serious consequences than striking the animal.
- After a collision, protect people first: Stop only where it is safe, use hazard warning lights and call the emergency services if anyone is injured. Do not approach, move or attempt to treat an injured deer; give the police an accurate location so that appropriate help can be arranged.
Although the autumn period brings a pronounced increase in collisions, experts warn that deer can be encountered on the road at any time of year. The British Deer Society encourages drivers to report deer-vehicle collisions through is BDS Deer Map app, helping to improve understanding of collision locations and identify local hotspots.
