Roadside Chat - Buck the trend. Eyes up, phone down
You see it everywhere, maybe even inside your own vehicle. Drivers are paying less and less attention to the road and more attention to their phones. As a driver, keeping your eyes on the road is always the safest option, but it’s even more important this time of year when deer are on the move.
Historically, Nov. 2 through Nov. 16 is the peak season for vehicle crashes with animals, mainly deer. The main reasons for the increase in deer movement are:
- The animals are in the midst of their annual mating season known as the “rut”
- Farmers are harvesting, which can disrupt deer habitat.
- Hunters are out with their bows looking for that trophy buck.
Here are some tips to avoid crashes with deer:
- Pay attention to the road and the roadside.
- Watch for deer crossing signs. These are located where deer activity has been noted in the past.
- Slow down.
- If a deer darts in front of your vehicle. Don’t veer to avoid it.
Even though this news report is a few years old, it is still full of great advice: https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-department-of-transportation-dont-veer-for-deer/13761042#
In Iowa in 2022, there have been 285 deaths in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of four since last Friday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf