NEWS ARTICLES

Driving an emergency vehicle is dangerous. No one could argue with this statement, although proper precautions can reduce the danger significantly. Stopping at red lights and stop signs, using lights and sirens only when necessary and following normal traffic rules at all other times, and wearing your seat belt all help in firefighter and EMS injury reduction. This time of the year however, we at ESIP see a great increase in claims related to emergency vehicles colliding with deer and each of the last few years have developed greatly increased numbers of this particular claim.

The explosion in the deer population has led to this increase in deer/vehicle collisions and fire apparatus and ambulances are not immune to the problem. This is not only a vehicle issue since several drivers and occupants are injured and even killed each year as a result of these collisions. According to the Insurance Information Institutes, the states which lead in these types of incidents are Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Minnesota, Texas, Indiana, and South Carolina.

There are some things you can do to help prevent such accidents:

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before sunrise as most deer/vehicle collisions are reported during these hours.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer crossing areas.
• Deer seldom run alone. If you spot one, be on the look out for others.
• At night, use high beams when possible as they better illuminate the eyes of the deer near the roadway.
• When you spot a deer, slow down and use one long blast on your horn to frighten the deer away.
• Sirens do not seem to scare deer away, so don't depend on your siren to clear the way.
• If there is a deer in your lane of traffic, brake firmly, but avoid swerving into other lanes which may be occupied. Vehicles avoiding deer collisions cause many much more serious accidents with other vehicles.

If your vehicle should strike a deer, don't go near the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you and further injure itself. If it is blocking the roadway, call the police immediately.

Emergency vehicles are not immune to deer accidents and injuries can occur, so be aware and take proper precautions.