FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2001 (HealthDayNews) -- Along with the joys of fall, we often have the worry about hitting deer that dart across those picturesque roads we love to travel.
But a new study that pinpoints the hour after sunset as the most likely time for such a collision could mean fewer deer will be turned into hood ornaments.
Researchers in Finland looked at the data from 21,887 accidents involving white-tailed deer and moose between 1989 and 1997. Their aim was to determine the most likely time of day for deer-vehicle accidents. Experts agree autumn is one of the most dangerous times of the year when it comes to driving and deer because of changes in the animals' eating and mating habits. But nailing down the most risky hour has been more elusive, the researchers say.
Their findings appear in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
"It's important to know the very basic hourly/daily/monthly distributions of risks that people meet while driving, just as in all of their life, so that both society and drivers themselves can take the risks into account and reduce them," says Heikki Summala, lead author of the study. "There were some earlier studies that indicated evenings (and mornings) are more dangerous with moose [and deer]. However, in this better-controlled study, we found that it is just the time after sunset which is hazardous. We showed that moose [and deer] activity and darkness together increase accident risk very much, and if the peak of traffic still coincides with sunset, as it sometimes does, the risk is indeed considerable."
During that peak period, the researchers found crash rates involving deer and moose rose dramatically. With deer, the risk peaked at 30 times the seasonal daytime rate, while for moose, the risk climbed to 60 times the seasonal daytime rate.
In the study, the researchers looked at data collected by the Finnish National Road Administration, which included the exact time and location of the collision, and what type of deer was involved. They made seasonal adjustments to the times of the accidents so they reflected sunrise and sunset accurately.
The results can be applied to North America since the study was so large and white-tailed deer live in both northern Europe and North America, Summala says. During 1999, 231 people were killed in 213 crashes with animals in the United States. In Europe, annual deer collisions are estimated at 500,000, with 300 people killed and 30,000 people injured each year.
Another expert is impressed with the findings.
"I'm not aware of any other studies that have done this as accurately and scientifically as described here," says M. Blake Henke, director of the Center for Conservation Research and Technology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The center is currently working with the Maryland Highway Administration on a study of deer accidents on Maryland's roads.
So, what's a driver to do?
Summala says you should slow down after sunset, and be more alert when driving at that time. He also suggests using reflectors on cars and watching for deer-crossing signs.
Other experts say you should always wear a seat belt, use extreme caution when driving at night, and be aware that deer rarely travel alone. If you see deer on the road and manage to avoid them, flash your headlights at oncoming drivers so they know something is ahead.
If you hit a deer, get off the road, turn on your flashers and try to call police if you have a cell phone. Check your vehicle for damage, and report the accident to your insurance company. Make sure you get a copy of the police accident report since many insurance companies won't cover the damage otherwise. If the deer is only wounded, don't get too close to it because it might kick you, experts add.
Henke thinks if researchers could study the movements of deer over long periods of time, they might be able to figure out why deer cross roads when they do.
"Are they trying to cross to the other side, in which case overpasses and underpasses might be effective; are they trying to get to the median to browse, or are they doing something else?" he asks. "Fencing along roads might be the best way of keeping deer out, but we would need some comprehensive research to scientifically arrive at that conclusion because that would be expensive to accomplish."
"The deer-vehicle accident problem is clearly a significant concern, and one that we believe is growing with the increase in deer populations and human development and traffic," Henke says.
What To Do
Those road sign warnings are there for a reason.
And don't dimiss the moose factor. In New Hampshire, there are huge signs that say, "Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life." (Click on AARoads for an example.) Moose are a special problem for motorists because, unlike deer, they're usually a single dark color and their eyes don't reflect light. They're also taller, so when a car hits one the animal -- which can easily weigh in at 1,000 pounds -- is likely to topple onto the hood and windshield. Take extra caution after sunset if you're leaf-peeping in moose country. The State of New Hampshire has a primer on moose.
Read all about white-tailed deer. And you can view this study on deer-related accidents in Maryland.
