I recently watched a news program that stated there were 1.5 million collisions between motor vehicles and deer last year and 190 fatalities. The fatalities were up from 105 the year before and over half were motorcyclists. These numbers will continue to go up unless something is done to control the deer population which has been at an all time high for years. I am not a hunter but can't help but think that some much longer hunting seasons would be a benefit for everyone.
Whoa! dc thats some grusome stuff!
And 007's stats are right, an excerpt for the State Farm site:
"Some states experience more collisions with deer than others. According to claim statistics from State Farm - which insures more vehicles than any other company in the United States - the states with the highest number of accidents involving deer between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005 were:
Pennsylvania
Michigan
Illinois
Ohio
Georgia
Minnesota
Virginia
Indiana
Texas
Wisconsin
Drivers in these states, and all others, who heed some helpful tips, can avoid becoming involved in one of the estimated 1.5 million vehicle-deer collisions that take place across the United States each year. These alarming numbers of accidents kill more than 150 motorists each year and result in more than $1.1 billion in vehicle damage. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report recently revealed that vehicle-animal collisions rose 24 percent in 2000-01 when compared with 1992-93 (NHTSA does not make distinctions on the type of animal).
Even more alarming are recent studies that show the deer population is growing exponentially across the United States. This means deer, many of which are being displaced by urban sprawl, are left wandering as they seek a mate and flee hunters, often leading them on to busy roads.
Several remedies have been proposed and studied to help mitigate the dangers of vehicle-deer collisions. One such study included the use of radar to detect deer movement near roads, and when a deer was detected, an active deer crossing sign was illuminated. Other studies have focused on keeping deer out of the roadway through long runs of eight-foot-tall chain link fencing that keep deer confined and out of the roadway.
"While research has revealed several innovative ways to deter deer from entering the roadways and alerting drivers to the dangers of deer in the area, there will always remain a constant danger of vehicle-deer collisions," said John Nepomuceno, Research Administrator for State Farm. "Undoubtedly, the best way to avoid deer-vehicle collisions is through attentive driving behavior.""
[SIZE=18pt]WTF!!![/SIZE]
Radar deer detectors? Active deer crossing signs? A gazillion miles of deer fence? :dribble:
I think a better solution would be legalized Doe hunts and up to three deer per tag until we see a noticable reduction in deer strikes! I'm not a hunter but I think this would make the deer hunters happy, motorists happy, insurance companies happy, NRA happy, butcher shops happy, and PETA really pissed off! :glare: Plus it's virtually no cost to the public! I like it!!!
