Motorists should steer clear of deerRSS Feed
between an estimated 42,000 and 74,000 traffic accidents relating to deer ever year in the UK, according to Scottish National Heritage (SNH)
This equates to between 400-700 human injuries and approximately 20 deaths, figures say.
Motor collisions with deer rocket at this time of year, as longer nights and the clocks turning back mean that deer move down the hills at the same time commuters are heading home.
Although the risk is almost twice as high in Scotland than in England, 70 per cent of these traffic accidents occur on large roads or motorways, rather than in overtly rural areas.
Jamie Hammond, SNH deer management officer, said that any traffic accidents involving deer should be reported to the police.
"If you slow down or stop for one deer, be aware that more deer may follow the first. Turn off your full-beams, as deer may be startled and freeze instead of leaving the road," he added.
It was reported earlier this year that urban deer are becoming a problem in the UK, following in the footsteps of foxes and squirrels. It was estimated that the deer population had reached 2 million, the highest for 1,000 years and that around 350,000 of the animals are killed in the country every year.
Accident claims advice from Serious Law
Posted by M E Dixon
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