Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime Action Team ask drivers to heed warnings about deer near the roads

Many of Lincolnshire’s road accidents involving deer are easily avoidable if motorists ‘simply slowed down’, according to police.

The county’s rural crime action team says it is seeing far too many deer vehicle collisions – or DVCs as they’re often known.

But the force said if drivers heeded warning signs and thought more about the damage that colliding with the heavy animals can do then the danger could be eased.

Addressing the issue in a Facebook post, the force wrote: “Many are easily avoidable if motorists simply slowed down, looked at the warning signs and considered what 50 plus kilos of deer can do to you and your vehicle or what you could do to that deer.”

The highest number of incidents, say police, take place between the early evening and midnight and then again between 6am and 9am.

Traditional highways triangular warning signs - alerting drivers to the possibility of deer along the edge of the road - have been bolstered recently by additional day-glo signs, installed with the support of the Lincolnshire Deer Group, to remind people about the need to pass cautiously on certain roads.

These ‘Think Deer’ signs, say officers, have been placed where there are known issues.

In 2021 Lincolnshire Deer Group’s trained responders attended more than 200 call-outs – while the RSPCA estimates more than 74,000 deer are involved in collisions with cars in the UK each year, resulting in hundreds of injuries to motorists and several fatalities.

Officers say that any driver involved in a DVC that hurts a deer should report the incident to police straight away, via 999 if necessary.

Motorists should note the exact location of the crash and whether there is any further hazard or risk to the public – and the same applies to anyone who may come across a dead deer lying on the road.

The force asks that people who are waiting for police – or experts from the Deer Group team – to arrive, use hazard lights where possible to alert other passing drivers to the ongoing incident.

The police social media post explained: “It is requested that prior to the arrival of the police, a vehicle with hazard lights on is placed SAFELY, near to the deer, obviously a dead deer lying in the road could cause further tragic consequences to other road users.

“Under no circumstances must a member of the public remove the deer. If the animal is dead and not blocking the highway or posing any other risk the local authority should be notified to arrange collection of the animal. It can be left on the roadside verge.”

Injured deer however, the message explains, can put up a ‘tremendous struggle for life’ and may scream or thrash about. In such instances people should keep a safe distance from any animal in distress.

No attempt should be made to touch or stroke the animal - but a blanket or some other covering placed over its head to cut out the daylight or bright lights from other cars can often have an instant calming effect.

The police social media post added: “Voices should be kept low. Try and stay on the scene until an authorised and trained LDG volunteer arrives.

“If you have to leave, try and place a marker of some kind where the deer was last seen. None of us want to allow a deer to suffer unnecessarily.”

What do you think? Do you ease off your speed to be mindful of deer? Post your comments below or email news@lincsonline.co.uk