KFVS12 ViewPoint - 10/26/12 - Deer Accidents - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

We have addressed the deer problem in the city of Cape Girardeau in this forum before, but we need to widen the perspective at this time of year and talk about deer in the Heartland. More specifically, deer on the roadways of the Heartland.

According to recent research by State Farm insurance, we are mostly in the medium risk range for deer versus car accidents (click the map at the right to enlarge it). Between July 2011 and June 2012, 1.2 million deer were hit by automobiles. While The Heartland's deer population is great for hunters, it absolutely stinks for motorists and with the deer population spilling out on the highways at this time of year, we wanted to share a few tips to keep you safe on the road:

• Make sure that you exercise extra caution when driving between 6 and 9 o'clock at night, that's when deer are more active
•  Be aware of deer crossing signs. If they took the time to put up a sign, they did it for a reason.
•  Use your high beam headlights as much as you can to see deer that are just off the roadway
•  If you encounter one on the road, try to brake, but don't swerve. If you hit a deer, he's going to give a little, a tree won't
• Finally, keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, then watch for that straggler nearby

With the loss of habitat and growing urban areas more accidents are expected than in past seasons. Let's all do our best to keep ourselves and the roadways safe.

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