Watch out on the roads as amorous deer are making their move

DRIVERS are being warned to look out for amorous deer on the roads as the annual rut kicks off.

Thousands of deer in the New Forest become more active seeking territory during the autumn breeding season and motorists are being advised to take particular care around sunrise and sunset.

According to Highways England, studies suggest that up to 74,000 deer die on the roads across Britain every year, with as many as 1,000 humans injured and 20 killed.

Aaron Herringshaw, a chef who commutes across rural Dorset from his home in Bournemouth, suffered two collisions within 18 months which both wrote off his cars.

He said: “I am aware of the wildlife in the area and weather-wise it was clear but both times a deer leapt out of the hedge in right front of my car with absolutely no warning.

“The impact is quite scary as you have no control of the vehicle in that split second - it is somewhat surreal because you’re not expecting that to happen first thing in the morning.”

Drivers hitting a deer are advised to park safely with hazard lights on and call the police, and an ambulance if any people are injured.

Full-beam lights are suggested when there is no oncoming traffic, but they should be dimmed if a deer is spotted to avoid them freezing on the road. When approaching deer warning signs, drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop.

Highways England also works with groups including the Deer Initiative, a partnership of statutory, voluntary and private interests, to take safety measures such as deer-proof fencing.

Leonardo Gubert, senior ecologist at Highways England, said: “You may be well-travelled and on a well-known route without ever seeing a deer before, but there may be one hidden in nearby foliage or woodlands and some species of deer can often gather in large groups.

“You may have seen one and avoided it but others may follow and unexpectedly dart out into the roadway.”

He added: “We want everyone travelling on our roads to reach their destination safely and with as many as 1.5-million wild deer living across Britain it is vital for drivers to be aware of their presence, to be extra vigilant, especially at this time of year when deer are on the move.”

To help build up an accurate picture of accident hotspots, drivers are urged to report deer collisions on the Deer Aware website, www.deeraware.com.