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Motoring news

'Look out for deer', motorists urged

22/09/2009

Drivers are being asked to be on the lookout for deer, in a bid to reduce the number of animals and people killed and injured in collisions.

In its 'DeerAware' campaign, the Deer Initiative is seeking to alert motorists to the risks of colliding with the animals, particularly at dawn and dusk during spring and autumn. It estimates that there are up to 74,000 collisions between deer and vehicles in the UK each year, with most deer involved either killed outright or left to die.

The Highways Agency, a partner in the initiative, warned that deer could be highly unpredictable. It advised drivers to pay heed to deer warning signs and to be prepared to stop - warning that swerving to avoid a deer could have even more severe consequences than hitting it.

Commenting on the campaign, RAC Foundation spokesperson Philip Gomm said: "With 1.5 million deer resident in the UK, the chance of hitting one is significant - as is the risk of being injured or killed as a result."

Colin Booty, senior wildlife scientist at the RSPCA, added that being 'DeerAware' would help to reduce the number of animals killed each year.

"This is probably the biggest welfare issue affecting our wild deer," he said. "As well as the deer that are killed, over 10,000 are severely injured every year when hit by vehicles."

Last week it emerged that the Department for Transport (DfT) planned to amend the law on the display of toad warning signs.

Under current rules, councils can only erect temporary "migratory toad crossing" signs between February and May, but the DfT has had to respond to changing behaviour among toads. Among a number of proposed changes to road traffic signs, currently under consultation, the DfT plans to allow authorities to display the signs from January to May.