DRIVERS across Glasgow are being advised to look out for deer wandering onto trunk roads and motorways this month.

The warning comes as vehicle accidents involving deer peak every May as young deer disperse and increasingly cross major roads to look for their own territories.

Scotland TranServ has identified hot spots around the M77 at Pollok Estate and the M80 near Junction 2 Robroyston as the routes to be most careful on.

Dr Jochen Langbein who oversees the Deer Vehicle Collisions Project, described how wild deer numbers have risen significantly over recent decades in Scotland.

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He said: “Many people think most accidents with deer and vehicles occur on more remote Highland roads but, in Scotland, at least 40 per cent occur on A-class trunk roads or motorways, including across much of South West Scotland’s road network.”

There is no system for the central collation of road traffic accidents involving deer in the UK, however, figures collated from a number of studies suggest that, while it is safe to say 40,000 deer are killed in vehicle strikes every year, this figure could be as high as 70,000 across Britain as a whole.

Conservative estimates of 400 injuries to vehicle passengers related to these collisions could well be nearer 1,000 annually.

It is estimated that, in Scotland, the figure could be as high as 9,000 collisions per year, resulting in anywhere between 50 and 100 human injuries, with the total cost of material damage and injury thought to be around £9.5 million.

Tommy Docherty, Scotland TranServ’s Network Control Centre manager, added: “Our Trunk Road Incident Support Service (TRISS) and Incident Support Unit (ISU) teams are particularly busy at this time of year, tackling the aftermath of deer collisions; not only the loss of life of this beautiful native animal, but the damage to cars and indeed injuries to drivers and passengers.

“It can be very distressing having to attend such incidents. Their main function is to keep the road safe, but often they need to contact animal welfare experts directly for them to put the injured deer out of its misery.”

Glasgow Times:

While Scotland TranServ would advise drivers to remain vigilant to the potential of deer wandering onto trunk roads, there are five other efforts motorists can take to avoid a deer strike and potential damage to their car or injury to themselves:

  • Be extra vigilant where you see ‘deer’ or ‘wild animal’ road signs
  • Use your high-beam headlights (without dazzling other drivers) when it’s dark, but dip them if you see a deer, otherwise it may freeze in your path
  • Don’t overreact or swerve excessively. It's safer to continue on your normal track rather than swerving or braking hard to try to avoid a deer
  • If you do hit a deer, try to stop somewhere safe
  • Report the accident to the police - they’ll contact the correct authorities who can help the injured deer