Welcome to Don't Veer for Deer (and other wildlife)
Wildlife-vehicle collisions and near misses are one of the leading causes of injury related crashes and rollovers. This course will increase awareness for this type of collision and provide simple tips to reduce the risk of being involved in an crash.
Time
This course will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Embracing Discovery
Gaining Insight
Making It Real
Embracing Discovery
Every creative endeavor requires that you take risks. If you try and don’t succeed, you’ve still learned something. It took Thomas Edison more than 10,000 tries to invent a viable lightbulb. You’re not failing. You’re discovering what doesn’t work.
Gaining Insight
To spark creativity, feed your brain material like you’re cramming for a tough test. Then stop thinking about the problem you want to solve. Go surfing or take a leisurely walk. Research shows that letting your mind wander fosters creativity.
It’s also found that meditation helps you spot and solve problems in creative ways. It promotes divergent thinking that gets novel ideas flowing. According to these studies, meditation also makes you more open to considering new solutions. Time to breathe.
Making It Real
No creative process is truly complete until it manifests a tangible reality. Whether your idea is an action or a physical creation, bringing it to life will likely involve the hard work of iteration, testing, and refinement.
Just be wary of perfectionism. Push yourself to share your creations with others. By maintaining an open stance, you’ll be able to learn from their feedback. Consider their responses new material that you can draw from the next time you’re embarking on a creative endeavor.
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In this section you will learn more about the impact deer have on wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Press the arrow below to learn more about deer collisions.
What about other animals?
While most animal vehicle collisions involve deer, you may also meet with domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, or other animals, so it is important to remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
Regardless of what type of animal you encounter on your drive, you’ll use the same techniques to avoid a collision.
Does this happen everywhere?
While some areas tend to see more wildlife-vehicle collisions than others, it is important to remain aware in all geographic locations.
Review the map below to determine the likelihood of being involved in an animal vehicle collision in each state.
Reflect: Where do you drive?
Think about the state(s) where you spend the most time driving. What are the odds of being involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision?
Although wildlife-vehicle collisions are possible anywhere, at any time:
To continue, check each box as you read the information below.
Avoiding wildlife-vehicle collisions starts with preparation.
Each small action you take can help prevent a collision. It is important to make sure you are prepared in any driving situation.
Click on each tab to learn more.
Watch for Warning signs
Use your high beam headlights
Keep a clean windshield
Watch for Warning signs
Areas where a lot of animal collisions occur will often have yellow warning signs, indicating an especially hazardous area ahead. If you see one of these warning signs, reduce your speed. Reducing your speed increases how much time you have to stop or avoid a collision. And it will reduce the force of impact if you cannot avoid a collision. When you see the warning signs, be prepared to stop, and consider what you must do if you encounter an animal.
Drive defensively and actively watch the side of the road for any animals or movement. Animals often travel in groups. So, if you see one animal, be on the lookout for others.
Use your high beam headlights
Many collisions with wildlife happen between dusk and dawn. Using your high beam lights when possible increases the area you can see in front of your vehicle, and that gives you more time to react to any incident. But remember, don’t blind other drivers with your high beam lights.
In low light situations, your headlights may reflect off the animal’s eyes before you actually see the animal.
Emerging headlight technology will soon make it easier to see in hours of darkness. Adaptive driving beam will allow you to have high beams on at all times without dazzling other drivers. We recommend inquiring with your company or with your vehicle distributor to include this technology in your next vehicle.
Keep a clean windshield
Make sure your windshield is clean. Anything that reduces your visibility will reduce your ability to spot wildlife in your path.
If you see an animal in or near the road in front of you, it's not too late to prevent an incident.
Follow these steps to avoid a wildlife-vehicle collision.
SLOW DOWN
If a smaller animal or deer is in your way, consider using your brakes to slow down, instead of turning your steering wheel to swerve around the animal.
WATCH FOR OTHER ANIMALS
Deer and other animals often travel in groups, so keep an eye out for other animals near the road.
REMAIN CAUTIOUS
The animal may swerve or bolt suddenly, so remain alert while slowly driving past it.
DO NOT SWERVE FOR WILDLIFE
Swerving to avoid colliding with an animal will likely put you in more danger, especially if there are other vehicles around.
Although your first initial instinct may be to swerve to avoid an animal in your path, you should instead slow down as much as possible and stay in your lane.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, you are 3.5 times more likely to be injured swerving to avoid a deer than staying in your lane and slowing down.
FOLLOW SAFETY LAWS
A always, ensure you are wearing a seat belt at all times. Not only is it the law in most states, but wearing a seat belt keeps you properly restrained in the vehicle if you do collide with an animal.
Press START or on the (>) arrow below to learn about the best practices to follow if you are in a wildlife-vehicle collision.
You can encounter wildlife while driving anywhere, and at any time.
To continue, check each box to confirm you have you have reviewed the main actions that can help keep you safe while driving:
Now that you have reviewed the course materials, you should be able to:
- Describe when and where wildlife-vehicle collisions are likely to occur.
- Explain safety practices that can reduce the risk of becoming involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision while on the road.
- Identify steps to take when a wildlife-vehicle collision is unavoidable.
- Summarize what to do if you are involved in a wildlife vehicle collision.