Driving Toward a Deer in the Road? Colorado State Patrol Says to Hit It.

As Colorado enters peak season for animal-caused car crashes, state troopers have some tough-love advice for drivers: Hit the deer, not the brakes.

The Colorado State Patrol is urging motorists to "be prepared to make a tough decision" when they encounter animals on the road, as part of an awareness campaign launched on Monday, November 11. If other vehicles are driving behind you or you don't have adequate time to stop when wildlife is blocking your path, CSP says the best thing to do is "drive through" the animal.

“The worst choice you can make is to swerve outside your lane or slam on your brakes with vehicles behind you,” says Major David Rollins, CSP District 4 commander. “People can end up in serious crashes when they let their emotions take over to save Bambi or his friends.”

Last year, the state patrol investigated 256 crashes involving animals on roadways in the Colorado Rockies and Western Slope. The bulk of those collisions occurred in November, according to CSP; the crashes are most common from October through December, during hunting and mating season.

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are estimated to cost Colorado $80 million a year. The state is beginning to invest in wildlife crossing areas to address the issue — but in the meantime, CSP has some tips for how drivers can avoid crashing into critters on their own.

If you have time and no vehicles are driving behind you, stay in your lane, slow to a stop and honk your horn to get the animal to move, CSP says. If not, stay the course and prepare for roadkill. When the animal is by the white side lane line, drivers can also slightly angle their vehicle toward the butt of the animal, but make sure to stay within your lane.

Officials emphasize that motorists should never swerve to avoid wildlife.

But for the animal lovers out there, drivers are also encouraged to take preventative measures: Drive the speed limit, pay attention to wildlife crossing signs and use your high beams when not around other vehicles to increase your chances of spotting animals ahead of time.

When you see wildlife around the road, slow down, flick your high beams to try to scare them off, and warn the motorists behind you by honking your horn or tapping your brakes. Particularly keep an eye out for animals between dusk and dawn, and expect herds to be nearby if you spot one deer or elk.

If you hit an animal, maintain control of your vehicle and pull over when it is safe to do so to make sure you and your passengers are okay, CSP says. If the animal is large and still in the roadway after you hit it, call 911.