“Vehicle versus deer” is the title of more and more traffic accident reports showing up these days on daily reports from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
“You can tell the deer are stirring again,” spokeswoman B.J. Williams said Monday morning in releasing sheriff’s office reports for the weekend. There have been nearly a dozen reports of vehicle-deer collisions in the county since the first of September. And those are only the accidents investigated by sheriff’s deputies and does not include any worked by other law enforcement agencies in the county.
A year ago, an official with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said it’s important to know how to react in the event of an encounter with a deer on the edge of a road or crossing one.
“Although the main goal is to avoid a collision, if one is unavoidable, do not swerve to miss the animal,” cautioned Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist with DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. “It’s better to hit the deer than to risk losing control of your vehicle. Remember, deer often travel in groups, so if you see one cross the road, be aware that others may follow, and don’t assume the danger has passed.”
What are some other precautions can you take? Click here to see more from DNR: Buckle Up for Deer Season: Stay Alert And Drive Safe This Fall | Department Of Natural Resources Division