Deer crashes — Missouri Permit Test

Deer seldom travel alone, so if you see one crossing the road or a struck deer at the roadside, there are probably others nearby.

The second deer is the one that hits you, because you relaxed after the first one cleared.

Deer seldom travel alone.

Most deer-related crashes occur in January, May, and October through December.

Four periods of the year carry most of the risk, and they are not the ones people expect.

Most deer-related crashes occur in January, May, and October through December.

The highest-risk periods for deer crashes are from sunset to midnight and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.

Those are the hours deer move and the hours your headlights show least.

Highest-risk periods are from sunset to midnight and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.

After dark, use high beams when there is no opposing traffic, because they illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway.

Deer eyes reflect, and high beams are what makes them reflect far enough away to matter.

High beams will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway and provide greater motorist reaction time.

If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, do not swerve, because swerving off the road or into oncoming traffic can increase the risk of injury.

Hitting the deer is usually survivable. Hitting a tree or an oncoming car often is not.

If you see that a crash is unavoidable, do not swerve.

Make sure there is no traffic behind you before slowing suddenly for a deer, because too much brake pressure can drop the front of the vehicle and bring the animal into the passenger compartment.

Braking hard tips the nose down, and the deer goes over the hood instead of under the bumper.

Too much brake pressure can cause the front end of the vehicle to drop down, striking the deer in the legs and allowing the body to come into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

If you are in a deer crash, report it to a local law enforcement agency and contact a Missouri Department of Conservation agent to report where it happened.

The second call is not paperwork. It is how the state finds out where the crossings are.

Contact a local Missouri Department of Conservation agent to report where the crash occurred.

You see one deer cross the road ahead. What should you expect?

Others nearby. The second deer is the one that hits you, because you relaxed after the first one cleared. Missouri Driver Guide, p.59: “Deer seldom travel alone.”