Whenever you spot a deer in the woods you are more than thrilled to take pictures of it and even try to get close to it. However, when you are driving on a curvy road in the mountains, maybe at high speed, things are slightly different when you see a wild animal just in front of you.
Colliding with a deer is not only bad for the animal, but also for you and your car. Many people have lost their lives after hitting wild animals that were simply walking on the road.
The most worrying aspect is that now the chances of hitting a deer are much higher than they used to be a few years ago, especially if you are driving on Nebraska roads.
According to a recent report, the odds of doing that are now 1 in 97, which is way higher than the average national odds of 1 in 169.
“The national cost per claim average for a deer-vehicle collision is more than $4,100 and that’s up 6% from previous year when the average was about $3,800”, said a representative of Avery, in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
According to officials, the highest number of collisions was recorded between September and December, because that is when the wild animals are the most active.
Drivers need to be very careful, especially when driving from dusk until dawn because visibility on the road is considerably lower.
If a deer shows up on the road unexpectedly, the best thing you can do is brake and drive straight ahead. It is advisable to refrain from swerving, because this increases the risk of collision with another car or of going off road.
It is also of utmost importance to wear a seatbelt at all times and navigate turns very slowly to have time to react in case something appears on the road.
Officials of high-risk states have already issued warnings and information regarding the areas that are most at risk because of the large number of deer that wander very close to the main roads.
According to insurance agents, about 200 people die in accidents involving wild animals. So, next time you go on a road trip in the mountains, be extra careful
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