28 September 2009
Don't Let Your Driving Cost You Deerly
With the winter months on the way and dusk getting earlier,
Essex County Council is supporting a campaign to make motorists
more aware of deer on the county’s roads.
It follows an average of nine recorded collisions with deer
last year in Epping Forest alone and deer collisions are
unfortunately increasing.
Radio adverts and local advertising from the Deer Aware campaign
are being broadcast and further information is available at
http://www.deeraware.org.uk/
Working with the City of London and the Highways Agency, Essex
County Council is offering the following advice to drivers:
- If you collide with a deer (or witness a collision) and someone
may be injured or the presence of vehicles/deer in the road are a
risk to road safety then you should treat this as an emergency and
ring 999 for Police or Ambulance service immediately.
- When you see deer warning signs, slow down and stay alert.
- If your headlights are on, use full-beams when you can; but dip
them if you see deer, as they may ‘freeze’.
- More deer may follow the first one you see.
- Be prepared to stop. Don't overswerve to avoid a deer. Hitting
oncoming traffic or another obstacle could be even worse.
- Motorcyclists may need to take avoiding action - they are more
likely to be killed or injured in collisions with animals.
- If you stop, use your hazard warning lights.
- Do not approach an injured deer – it could be dangerous.
- To report any injured deer to the RSPCA please ring the 24-hour
cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.
County Councillor Roger Walters, Deputy Cabinet Member for
Highways and Transportation said: "As motorists we have a duty to
consider all our county’s wildlife but it is also important to keep
ourselves safe when driving.
"Accidents with deer are common and can be very serious so
I urge motorists to be vigilant, particularly at night."
Chairman of the City of London's Epping Forest Committee,
Barbara Newman, said: "Epping Forest is the largest open space in
the London area and it is important that we protect the animals
which help make this space so beautiful. "I would like to remind
drivers to take care on the roads in this area." .
ENDS
For more information contact
Nicola Toulson in Communications on 01245 430929 or email
nicola.toulson@essex.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
-
The UK National Deer-Vehicle
Collisions Project was set up in 2003 by the Deer Initiative, a
broad partnership of statutory and voluntary organisations. Funded
by the Highways Agency and other bodies, this study records
detailed information about deer related collisions, to identify
high-risk areas and key factors. Trials have been carried out to
test the effectiveness of different mitigation measures. The
DeerAware programme is focused on raising public awareness. It is
supported by Highways Agency publicity material that is available
to regional road safety initiatives targeting local deer collision
"hotspots".
- If you collide with a deer (or witness a collision) and someone
may be injured, or the presence of vehicles/deer in the road are a
risk to road safety, then you should treat this as an emergency and
ring 999 for Police or Ambulance service immediately, or use an
Emergency Roadside Telephone if there is one available.
- To report any injured deer to the RSPCA please ring the 24-hour
cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.
Press enquiries Loretta Lui
Telephone: 020 7332 1528
Mobile: 0777 080 3589
Email:
loretta.lui@cityoflondon.gov.uk