Castlebar - County Mayo - Mind how you go, Deer!

Drivers who ignore deer warning signs or drive at speed along rural roads at this time of year could make themselves an endangered species.

Cars and deer can be a lethal combination. During the breeding season, which runs from October through December, there can be dramatic increase movements in the deer population with a significant number of deer crossing public roadways.

Don't let your journey end here!

Over this time period, more deer-vehicle collisions occur than any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially cautious, warns the road safety officer with Mayo County Council. As our wildlife habitat continues to shrink, collisions with deer and other animals are likely to increase unless we are more vigilant in our driving,” said Mr Noel Gibbons.

Reports of collisions between deer and vehicles seem to be on the increase due to the wider distribution of deer in the county and the large volume of traffic on our roads, especially early morning. Most accidents occur between dusk and dawn. Deer often travel at night and are easily spooked by oncoming headlights. When seeing the oncoming lights, deer may appear to freeze and then sprint in front of the oncoming vehicle at the last second.

Here is a list of tips to help cut the risk of hitting a deer: -

    * Take note of deer warning signs, by driving with caution at or below the posted speed limit. Deer warning signs are only positioned where deer are likely to cross but also note that deer may cross where there are no signs.
    * Another peak in deer related traffic collisions occur in March - June when the young deer are weaned and separated from adults .The period from end of September through to the end of November are the highest risk period. This is due to the deer movement, males move between herds which increases the level of disturbance. Highest risk periods are from sunset to midnight followed by the hours shortly before and after sunrise.
    * Be aware that further deer may well cross after the ones you have noticed.
    * After dark, do use full beam when there is no opposing traffic. The headlight beam will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway and provide greater driver reaction time. But, when a deer or other animal is seen on the road, dim your headlights as animals startled by the beam may 'freeze' rather than leave the road.
    * Don't swerve to avoid a deer. If a collision with the animal seems inevitable, then try and maintain full control of your vehicle while coming to a full stop on your own side of the road. The alternative of swerving into oncoming traffic or a ditch could be even worse.
    * Only break sharply and stop if there is no danger of being hit by following traffic. Try to come to a stop as far in front of the animals as possible to enable it to leave the roadside without panic.
    * Report any deer related collisions to the Gardai (who should be able to contact the local person best placed to assist with an injured deer at the roadside)