The message Tuesday: It may be better to hit that animal in your path than swerve to miss it.
“Believe it or not,” said Captain Kris Meredith of the Colorado Highway Patrol, “I have seen people roll cars, because they tried not to hit a rabbit in the middle of the roadway.”
Behind winter, June and July have the highest number of vehicle-animal accidents, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Chances are that seven motorists will collide with animals on Colorado roads each week over the summer. And that’s a conservative estimate according to Meredith, who participated in a news conference Tuesday to get out the word. Three drivers hit deer before 10 a.m. Tuesday in Jefferson County alone.
Eric Wynn, public information officer with the CHP, has experienced the split-second decision of what to do when a herd of deer cross the road.
Wynn was off-duty one evening around 9:30 p.m. driving East on I-70 toward Limon. He said he was in the left lane when he saw three deer jump up from the median.
“It kind of makes your hair stand up,” Wynn said. “It’ll bring your heart to your stomach very fast.”
It was hard to know which way the deer would go, because he couldn’t see their eyes, Wynn said.
He decided to stay his course and missed the three in his path. Wynn noticed about four more deer were preparing to follow the first deer, but all missed the car.
“If I had braked and turned at the same time, I would have hit them,” Wynn said.
The message is to be aware and have a plan, Meredith said. Take note of the animal crossing signs, buckle up and be prepared to hit an animal if necessary, he said.
There are no consequences for hitting an animal, unless the motorist was speeding, Meredith said. And in the event of a collision, Highway Patrol want to hear about it, even if there was not property damage, Meredith said. Reports can be made by dialling *CSP, which is a free cell-phone call.
The Colorado Department of Transportation, State Highway Patrol, AAA Colorado, Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, and Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project have all joined in an effort to educate drivers about risks.
Deer-vehicle collisions last year carried a $1.1 billion price tag for insurance companies, according to Carole Walker of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. She recommended getting comprehensive coverage in advance of a big trip.
“Get out. Go enjoy the mountains, but pack up a little peace of mind along with it.”
Staff writer Michelle Wallar can be reached at 303-820-1201 or mwallar@denverpost.com.
Top roads for animal collisions:
I-70 & Hwy 285 – West of Denver
I-70 – West of Vail
I-70 – Glenwood Springs
Hwy 36 – North of Boulder
I-25 – Colorado Springs
Highway 160 – East of Alamosa
Highway 160- West of Del Norte
Hwys 550 & 160 – Durango
Highway 285 – North of Salida
Highway 40 – East of Craig
