NEWS RELEASE: October 9 , 2006
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: LT John Eichkorn 785-296-6800
Trooper Edna R. Buttler
Troopers Issued Patrol Vehicles
The Kansas Highway Patrol is advising all motorists to be cautious of deer activity on and around roadways this fall. Because the deer breeding season generally runs from October to December, law enforcement officers routinely investigate a large number of deer-vehicle crashes this time of year.
Deer continue to pose a significant traffic hazard in Kansas. According to Kansas Department of Transportation statistics, 8,553 deer-vehicle crashes occurred on Kansas roadways in 2005, causing 328 injuries and two deaths. To obtain deer-vehicle crash data broken down by county, log onto http://www.ksdot.org/burTransPlan/prodinfo/2005factsbook/Deer.pdf.
The Highway Patrol also would like to remind motorists to always use seat belts. Using seat belts and properly securing children in safety seats are the best ways to prevent injuries and death in the event of a crash.
“Some of the most serious crashes occur when drivers attempt to avoid the animal and lose control of their vehicle. Do not take unsafe evasive actions,” said Patrol Superintendent Colonel Seck. “It is usually safer to strike the deer than another object, such as a tree or another vehicle.
The Patrol offers the following tips to avoid and mitigate vehicle-deer crashes:
- Intentionally look for deer. Be especially alert at dawn and dusk, which are peak movement times for deer and when visibility is low.
- Slow down near woods, parks, golf courses, streams, and deer crossing signs, which are posted where deer-vehicle collisions have repeatedly occurred.
- Deer usually travel in groups. When one deer crosses the road, there may be others about to cross. Be prepared to stop for others darting into the road.
- Slow down when approaching deer standing near roadsides. They have a tendency to bolt, possibly onto the roadway. Use emergency flashers to warn oncoming drivers after you see deer near a roadway.
- If you hit a deer, pull over onto the shoulder, turn on your emergency flashers, and watch for traffic before exiting your vehicle. Do not try to remove a deer from the roadway unless you are certain it is dead; an injured deer could hurt you. If you have a cellular phone, dial *47 (*HP) for a Highway Patrol dispatcher or *KTA (582) for assistance on the Kansas Turnpike.
- Anyone involved in a vehicle-deer crash that results in personal injury or property damage that totals $1,000.00 or more is required to immediately report the crash to the nearest law enforcement agency. Failure to report any traffic crash is a misdemeanor and may result in suspension of driving privileges.