This blog is authored by Northpoint team member and Personal Insurance Advisor, Nigel Highton. We hope that you will find his expertise and perspective both helpful – and entertaining!
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If you live or work in rural Virginia, like me, you know that deer are an all-year round nuisance. Growing up in Bedford County I’ve always been familiar with the ever-present annoyance of these woodland creatures. I’m especially familiar with how much of a risk they are on the road! Now that I work in insurance, it has become even more obvious to me that they can be a major problem in our area. As your friendly neighborhood insurance advisor, I have taken it upon myself to provide my fellow Virginians with the knowledge to avoid deer collisions.
Watch out for more than one
Deer travel in groups for safety, resources, and to keep an eye on their little ones — kind of like a family road trip, but with more hooves and fewer snacks. So if you see one dart across the road, don’t hit the gas and celebrate that you ‘missed it.’ Slow down. Take a breath. And assume its cousins, siblings, and in-laws are right behind it. Where there’s one deer, there are usually several more just waiting to make their grand entrance.
Be alert during peak times
Throughout US History there have been a number of “baby booms.” These baby booms happen once every few decades. The deer population in Virginia does this EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, breeding season takes place from late September through February and is concentrated in the last two weeks of November. During breeding season a buck will run from wooded area to wooded area in order to mate with his harem of mistresses. Considering the activities these bucks are up to I guarantee they aren’t very focused on looking both ways before crossing the road. Therefore, we need to be vigilant to avoid accidents! Though we should always be looking out for deer, be extra vigilant between the months of September and February.
Use your high beams wisely
There’s a reason there is the saying “like a deer stuck in the headlights.” Their eyes reflect light, allowing us to see them from much farther away if your high beams are on. This causes them to have the natural reaction of freezing when feeling threatened, reducing the chances of them jumping out in front of you. Keep in mind that you should have your high beams off when there is oncoming traffic, but while traffic is clear keep those suckers on full blast. It can significantly reduce the chances of you hitting a deer!
Brake, don’t swerve
This seems obvious, but sometimes our natural reactions can betray us. It is far better to hit the brakes and potentially hit a deer than it is to swerve out of the way but end up upside down in a ditch. Even if you hit a deer, the consequences of swerving can be far more dire and can potentially cause very serious injuries. If it’s any extra incentive, keep in mind that if it’s a buck he’s probably cheating on his doe-wife so a little reality check could be good for him.
Use your brakes
This isn’t a repeat of the previous point—it’s a correction of a long-purported myth. Some say you shouldn’t brake because the vehicle’s “nose-dive” will send the deer through the windshield. That would only happen if you started braking a split second before impact. Trying to avoid this very unlikely scenario by not braking at all is far more dangerous. I once witnessed the fallout of this. I was driving home and about six cars in front of me a deer jumped out into the road. The driver did not brake, they simply plowed through the deer. The deer then proceeded to fly about twenty feet in the air, violently spinning around like he was Tony Hawk achieving the very first 900-degree board spin before landing on one of the cars in front of me. I cannot emphasize enough how much I am not making this up. All of this to say, don’t think you are going to be the less than 1% of instances where driving through the deer is going to cause the least amount of damage. Stay calm, hit your brakes, and stay in your lane.
Deer or no deer, we are here!
Over 500 million deer-related accidents happen every year in the US, and in Virginia the average deer-related claim is over $5,500. Staying alert, braking smart, and expecting the unexpected can save you from becoming one of these statistics. And if you do end up in an unfortunate run-in with Bambi or his extended family, don’t panic. That’s exactly why our team is here. Reach out anytime with questions about coverage, claims, or how to make sure you’re protected all year long so you don’t have to pay big “bucks” (I’m so sorry it was right there). Drive safe out there — and may the deer be ever in your favor!
