Man May Rule the Planet—But Sometimes Deer Rule the Road

Deer always look so peaceful, standing on the side of the road and chewing on the grass.

But don't be fooled.

They don't know how to cross the street when traffic is coming.

This is one of those topics that everyone in Somerset County thinks about, but no one really focuses on—at least until it happens to them.

I have worked in Somerset County for more than three years now, and lived in Branchburg for more than a month. I'm used to seeing deer all over the road and in the bushes, and have had a couple close calls when they have jumped out in front of me and I've had to slam on the brakes.

But a week ago, I came, literally, up close and too personal with one adult deer when it ran out into the road on Route 28 and slammed into the right front passenger side of my silver Hyundai Elantra.

The first thing that went through my head when the deer hit—aside from the obvious terror and panic—was how could I possibly have avoided the deer? It came out of nowhere as I was driving in a non-residential, non-wooded area just before the entrance to the Shoprite on Route 28.

I looked over to one of the passengers in my vehicle and asked her if she had any idea what happened—and she said that even she hadn't seen the deer coming until it was too late. And when I spoke to the Branchburg police officer who responded to my vehicle, he said these kinds of accidents are happening all too often, and increasing lately.

And that seems to be the consensus of the Bridgewater police as well.

"We do see quite a bit of deer," said Bridgewater Township Police Det. Sgt. Luke Daley. "There is a significant amount of deer, and we get them on the highway, in rush hour and on back roads."

For Daley, he has always stuck by the theory that if you see one deer there's probably more than one about to cross the road. And that's why there are speed limits, he said.

But, Daley said, it is difficult to deal with the deer, particularly as local communities continue to build up and destroy the natural habitat the animals once lived in.

"We're building up, and we're invading where they are," he said. "We are growing where their home is, and invading their space."

Several townships in Somerset County allow for deer hunting in designated locations, as does Bridgewater, with local hunting clubs on township and county properties to cull the animal during regular deer seasons.

As the former traffic sergeant for the department, Daley said, he used to see these kinds of motor vehicle crashes involving deer all the time because they literally come out of nowhere and run across the road.

Because that cannot be helped, Daley said, the only real safety measure to take is precaution. He said drivers should be aware of their surroundings, and maintain longer stopping distances so they do not have to stop short if a deer runs across the road.

Daley said it is difficult to decide the best course of action when trying to avoid a deer because drivers do not want to veer off to the side to avoid hitting the animal when there is a chance that doing so will risk hitting another vehicle.

"You can try to veer off to the side, but that could put you in the way of oncoming traffic," he said. "It's a very tough situation. Just use proper driving techniques."

And, by the way, wherever that deer is—because I watched it get up and walk away five minutes after hitting my car—I'd like to teach it about a little thing called jaywalking.