The Ontario Provincial Police are urging the motorists to be alert and aware of their surroundings.
This after a recent increase in the number of vehicle collisions involving deer.
OPP say deer-vehicle collision rates increase significantly 1.5 hours on either side of sunrise and sunset.
Although there is often signage to warn motorists of higher deer-travelled areas, motorists need to be aware in all areas.
Some helpful hints the OPP provide to ensure a safe journey this time of year include:
- Look all around, not just straight ahead. Deer will often run across the road from ditches and protected areas such as stream corridors and woodlots.
- Where you see one deer, expect more. Deer often travel in herds.
- Slow down. The slower you go, the more time you have to react should you encounter a deer
- Deer can move across roads at any time of the day or year but anticipate higher deer movements in the fall and around sunrise & sunset.
- Watch for glowing eyes of deer at night
- Don’t veer for deer. Should a deer run into the path of your vehicle, reduce your speed quickly, steer straight and stay in control.
- Remove all distractions. Give yourself the best chance possible to see and predict where deer might go.
- Buckle up. If you need to stop in a hurry, you want your body restrained to prevent unnecessary injury or possibly death.