ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The weather is turning cooler, which means drivers will have a higher chance of seeing deer out and about near roadways.
With that in mind, the Seward County Sheriff’s Office said there are some precautions drivers can take to keep themselves safe.
“One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to drivers around this time of year is to be especially watchful around dawn and then around dusk, because those will be the main times for deer to be out and about and near the roadways,” Seward County Undersheriff Ryan Roehr said. “If you see a deer and if it’s far enough away, slow down turn on your hazard lights so you can warn anyone behind you there’s a deer in the roadway, because there’s a chance they won’t see it. I would also advise drivers to be particularly alert around wooded areas – in our neck of the woods, the river areas are one of the main areas where deer congregate, as well as parts of U.S. Hwy. 54 and U.S. Hwy 83 around the bridges. We also have some areas east of town that seem to see a lot of deer, such as around Bluebell Road and Meade Lake Road. I have seen a decline in deer vs. vehicle accidents on U.S. Hwy 54, and I feel like at least part of that can be attributed to how it’s now a four-lane highway and there’s more road to be crossed. I can’t say that with 100 percent certainty, obviously, but I feel like that’s played at least some part. That being said, however, that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t still be on the lookout for deer in that area. If you see a deer crossing sign, they’re there for a reason, so be more careful and watchful in those areas. If you do see a deer, and it’s in the way, NEVER swerve, because that’s a sure way to cause injury – you could swerve off the roadway and hit another vehicle or a light pole or something else, so swerving to avoid a deer is the last thing you should do. Keep the steering wheel straight, brake gently, and wait for the deer to decide what it wants to do. If you do end up in an accident, you will have damage, but you’ll have a better chance of not being seriously injured.”
Roehr added people can expect the season to last for at least the rest of the year.
“Deer season is going on right now. October is when it starts, and the peak time is about the middle of November, that’s when the peak of rut season happens and it’s when deer seem to move around a lot,” Roehr said. “Deer season typically fades down around the new year. But I would say around now through November is when people should keep their heads on a bit of a swivel and be on the lookout for deer being out and about.”
For those who do end up in an accident, Roehr said the main focus is safety.
“The first thing people should do, if your vehicle is able to move, get it off the road onto the shoulder, turn your hazard lights on and call 911,” Roehr said. “Don’t worry about the deer carcass, we’ll take care of that side of everything. Get off the roadway and stay in your vehicle, and we’ll take your report when we get to your location. Our main focus is your safety. If you DO have to get out of the vehicle, make sure you’re still off the roadway. If your vehicle is disabled, turn your hazards on, make sure there’s no oncoming traffic, and make your way to the shoulder while you wait for us to respond.”
Roehr added the past couple years saw a significant decline in the number of deer vs. vehicle accidents, a trend he hopes continues for the rest of 2024.
“Last year, we saw a pretty steep decline in deer vs. vehicle accidents, and I feel like a big part of that was because of all the construction that was going on in that area and all the machinery and equipment running, so it might have scared the deer from being around there,” Roehr said. “Our main area with the most traffic is U.S. Hwy 54, and that’s where we would have the majority of the deer vs. vehicle accidents we responded to, but there ended up being a decline because of all the extra people and equipment in that area. I feel like that decline’s remained – we’ve responded to a couple accidents, but nowhere near the levels we typically see. This year, I hope we continue with that declining trend and stay about where we’re at. But like I said earlier, that doesn’t mean people should stop paying attention. As of right now, according to state statistics, we’re 11 percent lower than last year in terms of vehicle deaths, and that’s really good for us to see, we’re sitting at 273 vehicle deaths. I looked at a five-year span of state statistics, and from October to December, there seemed to be an influx of accidents around 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and then 5 p.m. In 2023, seven people were killed and 658 were injured in deer vs. vehicle accidents throughout the entire state.”
Overall, Roehr said, the most important thing people can do is make sure they are paying attention while on the roads.
“You can only see so much when it’s dark outside, so make sure you have your seatbelt on and have your lights on, especially at those peak hours so you can have a better view of everything,” Roehr said. “And keep an eye particularly on any ditches you might pass, because that’s where deer tend to congregate, and they seem to always wait until the last second do anything. If you come across a deer, slow down gently, and hopefully they won’t make the decision to jump right in front of you. Be alert, deer can congregate anywhere and everywhere, so make sure you’re paying attention as much as possible. Like we always say, wear your seatbelt and if you do end up needing our assistance, we’ll be there to help you out.”
