DON'T VEER FOR DEER

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to take extra care in areas where deer are common. The rutting (or breeding) season means deer are more mobile than usual, bringing them onto roads and increasing the risk of collisions. Experts believe the UK deer population numbers more than two million, and research from the RSPCA shows around 75,000 deer are involved in vehicle collisions each year, with 10,000 killed instantly. The human death toll from deer collisions ranges between 10 and 20 annually, while industry estimates put the cost of damage to vehicles alone to be at least £11 million. But it's not only deer drivers should be looking out for. In some regions, such as the Forest of Dean, collisions with wild boar have exceeded those involving deer. Although wild boar became extinct in the UK nearly 400 years ago, they are now back in some parts of the country. The UK is home to an estimated wild boar population of 2,600 or more. Around 500 die in the Forest of Dean each year, either through culling by marksmen or as a result of a road collision. Wild boar can reach 150kg in weight, meaning a collision could have severe consequences both for boar and vehicle. The animals can be seen in daylight hours, but they usually come out after dark, adding to the collision risk. GEM offers five simple tips for drivers to reduce risk from deer collisions: • Take note of deer warning signs. These are placed in locations where wild animal crossings are likely, so keep your speed down and be ready to encounter a deer at very short notice. • Be particularly watchful at dawn and dusk, when deer are most active. • If you spot one animal, it's likely there may be others following, so don't speed up and assume the danger has passed. • Remember the importance of always being able to stop - on your side of the road - in the distance you can see to be clear ahead. But also be ready to react if a deer leaps out right in front of you • Ideally we want to avoid any sort of collision, but swerving to avoid a deer could prove a very dangerous action if it leads to a collision with another vehicle.