Fairfax County Warns Drivers to Watch for Deer

Fairfax County Police are warning motorists to be alert and watch out for deer on area roads.

Virginia ranked in the top 10 states in the country for deer-vehicle collisions in 2009, according to a Fairfax County news release. The Commonwealth ranked 5th in 2009, after ranking 8th in 2008. Most of the collisions occurred during the deer breeding season, which ends in early January.

Police urge motorists to pay close attention while driving and be alert, especially when deer are most active at dawn and dusk and are likely to enter the roadways in herds. Police are posting mobile signs on roads where deer-vehicle collisions have been reported in the past few weeks, including Braddock and Pleasant Valley roads.

Tips from police:

• Deer are most active between 6-9 p.m.
• When possible, use high beam headlights to illuminate places where deer might enter the road.
• Remember that deer travel in herds—where there is one there is a high possibility others may be nearby.
• Don't rely on car-mounted deer whistles. Police say these may not work.
• Do not swerve to miss a deer. This may cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or put them in the path of another vehicle.
• If hitting a deer is inevitable police say drivers should: 
  • Slow down and grasp the steering wheel with both hands.
  • Take their foot off the brake at the time of impact. They say this will help lift the vehicle up and over the deer, rather than have the deer hit the windshield.
  • Report it to the county's non-emergency line if the animal is injured or killed, call 703-691-2131.

For more information on deer in Fairfax County, visit the county's deer management page.