Grey Bruce OPP are providing tips to avoid crashing into deer after responding to 15 collisions in a week.
Police say between 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 7:08 p.m. on Oct. 30, out of the 25 collisions they responded to in seven days, 15 of these were between a motor vehicle and a deer. No injuries were reported at any of these collisions.
To reduce the chance of hitting a deer, police suggest the following:
-Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
-Drive with caution when moving through areas known to have a large deer population. Remember – deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
-When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
-Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
-Slow down. The slower you go the more time you have to react should you encounter a deer.
-Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
-Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in deer-vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belt.
-Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer.