Stay focused behind the wheel; it’s the season for deer

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I don’t know if it’s still common practice, but generations of student drivers — myself among them — were shown short movies that depicted in graphic color and detail the aftermath of traffic accidents.

The intent, of course, was to engender in otherwise carefree teenagers good, cautious driving habits; to offer a crash course in the great responsibility that comes with a license to drive.

With ominous titles including “Signal 30,” “Highways of Agony,” and “Options to Live,” those old reel-to-reel driver’s education movies we had to watch — a rite of passage for ninth-graders — burned images of battered, bloodied, even charred victims into the retinas of future drivers.

Who’s to say whether those moves actually made for more responsible drivers, but I can still summon in my mind after all those years many of the images from those films, including the ruined face of a driver who crashed through a windshield after striking a deer, this from an 18-minute film produced in 1973 called “For Want of a Seatbelt.”

That image was the last thing on my mind around 7:30 this morning as I drove to work.

The first thing on my mind was braking to avoid the deer that darted in front of my car; the second was maneuvering to avoid the second deer running close on the first one’s heels.

The second deer was so close I could see what I took as panic in his wide eye as he sought to avoid me. It was to our mutual advantage to avoid contact.

Later, after I had time to reflect on the near-miss — and a few other recent close encounters with deer — I thought about those graphic old driver’s education movies and the glee evident in the old coach who showed them to us.

But mostly I thought about how many deer I’ve seen while driving around the area the last few weeks.

If you spend any time on the road this time of year, you probably can’t help but think of deer, too. It’s their prime mating season and they’re out and about, often crossing roadways.

While we’re still early in the fall deer season and it’s too soon for statistics, motor vehicle crashes involving deer usually peak in the fall months of October, November and December.

Every year, thousands of deer-related crashes occur in our state. There were 15,864 deer-related crashes reported in North Carolina in 2016, and 17,637 in 2015.

Already, I’ve seen a bunch of deer, including the pair I had to avoid this morning. I’ve also seen them standing on the roadside. And I’ve spotted a number that have been hit by cars.

It’s that time of year.

To avoid an encounter, the UNC Highway Safety Research Center offers some tips for drivers to lower the risk of a crash with a deer, or mitigate the damage that can occur when a driver does hit a deer.

Here’s the advice of experts as we head out onto the highway:

Always wear a seat belt, since proper restraint offers the best protection from injuries in the event of a crash.

Slow down. Drivers should reduce speed in areas with large known deer populations, such as wooded or farmland areas, and especially where deer warning signs are posted.

Watch for animals’ eyes reflecting from headlights. Observe far down the road and scan the roadsides, especially when driving through field edges, heavily wooded areas or posted deer crossing areas. The sooner you see a deer on or approaching a road, the better the chances of avoiding a collision. Using high beam headlights at night when there is no approaching traffic will make it easier to spot deer.

Remember that deer travel in herds. If a deer crosses the road in front of you, don’t assume that all is clear. Deer herds can be large, and the animals often move one right behind the other.

Don’t rely on “deer whistles” or other “ultra-sonic” devices that claim to prevent deer collisions. Experts say they don’t work.

Maintain control of your vehicle. It is important not to lose control of your vehicle or veer into the path of an oncoming vehicle when trying to avoid contact with an animal. Loss of control usually results in a more serious crash. It is safer, say experts on the topic, to hit the deer while maintaining control than hitting another vehicle.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol advises drivers involved in a crash with a deer, or any large animal, to avoid putting themselves in further danger by attempting to remove the animal carcass. Motorists are advised to pull over to a safe location off the roadway and dial 911 or *HP for help.