Campaigners advise drivers on deer danger (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Campaigners advise drivers on deer danger

SEVERAL hundred humans are injured, and even killed, following traffic collisions with deer each year in Britain.

In the Cotswolds alone there were 70 such collisions in 2003.

Blackspots can be found on the A419 from Cirencester to Stroud and the A429 between Fossebridge and Northleach.

But now local authorities have joined forces to reduce the risk of hitting deer.

Gloucestershire County Council's road safety unit is looking at traffic measures it can undertake, in association with The National Deer Collision Project.

Road Safety Officer Garry Handley said the Cotswolds was the worst area in the county for deer collisions, which occur mainly in the peak season between October and December when the nights draw in.

"Some of the traffic measures being discussed are fencing, bridges and placing a substance near to roads which smell of deer predators.

"We've also tried a reflector called wolf eyes near the Bathurst Estate by Sapperton.

"The reflector picks up a car's headlights and instead of reflecting the light back to the driver it reflects the light at a 90 degree angle into the woods. Deer might think a car is coming and run away," he explained.

The National Deer Collision Project was launched in 2003, sponsored mainly by the Highways Agency, to develop a national register for deer-related traffic accidents throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

It's aim is to assess the true scale and geographical distribution of the problem, assess different road safety measures, identify blackspots and increase public awareness of deer-related collisions.

Deer management consultant Dr Jochen Langbein, who oversees the project, said: "It's the first time an effort has been made to develop such a national database of wildlife collisions and, although we already have 18,000 incidents reported, the vast majority of collisions go unreported as motorists do not by law need to notify anyone unless a human injury has occurred as a result."

It is estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 deer are involved annually in traffic collisions.

"Clearly our records are only the tip of the iceberg. We need many more members of the public and organisations involved in attending to injured deer and removing carcasses from the roads to report these casualties and related traffic accidents to us," continued Dr Langbein.

Deer are widespread throughout the Cotswolds and include roe, muntjac and fallow deer.

"Fallow deer are roughly the size of a pedestrian - males are 65-85kg - so a direct hit can be quite severe for both driver and animal.

"However, just as many incidents are caused by people swerving to avoid deer and hitting oncoming traffic," explained Dr Langbein.

One prevention measure currently being monitored in Britain is a deer whistle.

This American-made device gives off an ultrasound whistle when a car is travelling at 35mph or more which is inaudible to the human ear.

It is attached to the front of a vehicle and is believed to make animals aware of an approach without startling them. However there is limited scientific evidence to prove the device works.

The county council has already tested the device on cows at Minchinhampton Common and it is assessing the results.

Gloucestershire Constabulary is also considering a pilot project.

Police spokesman Matt Ford said: "Collisions between motor vehicles and deer can result in serious injury of even death to the person and animals involved.

"The constabulary is aware of the problem and is actually investigating measures to reduce or prevent such collisions taking place.

"The possibility of fitting deer whistles to some patrol cars is being examined.

"We are currently looking into scientific evidence for and against the whistles and liaising with a number of groups."

Collisions can be reported via the website deercollisions.co.uk or for more information contact info@deercollisions.co.uk

THE RAC Foundation and the Deer Collisions Project have compiled the following safety tips to avoid accidents:

*Take note of deer warning signs by driving with extreme caution or at below the posted speed limit.

*Peaks in deer related collisions occur in October through to December, then may. Highest risk periods are from sunset to midnight and shortly before and after sunrise.

*Be aware that further deer may well cross after the ones you have noticed.

*After dark use full beams when there is no opposing traffic. The headlight beam will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway and provide greater driver reaction time. But when a deer or other animal is on the road, dim your headlights as animals startled by the beam may freeze.

*Don't over swerve. A slight swerve might be safe but over-reacting with traffic coming in the other direction or a ditch to the left could be fatal.

*Report any deer-vehicle collisions to the police.

*Slow down for wildlife.