By: Brent Durham, Internet Marketing Director, Preston Automotive Group
There are many road hazards that you need to pay attention to while driving. Of all the road hazards, deer and other creatures can cause damage to your car or truck and may cause harm to you, your passengers, and possibly other drivers near you. With more than 1.5 million crashes involving deer that happen each year, it is important to know what to do when such an accident occurs. Of the 1.5 million crashes involving deer it is estimated that over 1 billion dollars are spent on repairing vehicles that hit deer.
Deer are usual sighted either early morning hours or late evening hours. The worst months for deer activity (deer breeding season) are October, November, and December, though late February and early March, deer can be expected along side of the road looks for fresh green food. Most deer related crashes happen on rural and suburban roadways. Anytime one may be driving on these types of roadways it is important to continuously scan the roadways and the sides of the roads for deer in order to avoid collisions.
The main thing to do to avoid or minimize a deer related collision is “pay attention.” Be sure to scan the roadways and always slow down when deer are present. Honking and blinking your heads lights may help stir a deer out of the roadway. Remember if you see one deer, most likely there will be more to follow. Understanding common habits of deer and knowing what to do when one runs out in front of you can help you avoid serious injuries and auto body and collison repair bills.
So what do you do when you actually hit a deer? If hitting a deer is unavoidable there are few things to remember. Do not speed up, in order to point the hood upwards. You never want to take evasive actions, because you could run into a ditch, hit another car, telephone pole, or another object off the road. You should apply your brakes firmly, hold on the steering wheel, and come to a controlled stop. Pull over to a safe place if your vehicle is able to be driven, if not turn on your hazards and exit the vehicle when able to do so and be sure to watch for oncoming traffic. The next best thing to do is call the police, depending on your situation and fill out a police report for your insurance company. For more information on what to do when you hit a deer, contact your insurance provider.
Preston Automotive Group services the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania area with Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Hyundai and Nissan brands and used cars and trucks of all makes and models. The auto group carries the largest selection of new and used cars. Additionally, the dealership services all makes and models, both imported and domestic cars with ASE certified and factory trained technicians. For more information, contact Brent Durham at 410.673.7171 ext. 1148 or BDurham@prestonmotor.com