Deer warning to local motorists

Motorists in the Kilcullen area are asked to be very careful when driving at night following a number of accidents involving deer, writes Brian Byrne.

Several crashes and near misses have happened, notably at Kilashee and the M9 Kilcullen bypass. A stag was also seen in Hermitage Park in the last week.

"This is the high risk time of the year for this kind of incident," says Kilcullen-based garda Steve Kinneavy. "For the next eight weeks or so we're in the deer mating season, and stags are roaming at night. Kilcullen is at the centre of an area of this kind of activity."

The Irish Deer Society has issued the following guidelines for motorists.

Deer often travel in groups. If you see one, there are probably more in the vicinity. Not only that, deer are unpredictable. They often dart right into traffic.

Drivers and their passengers should always wear seat belts. Motorcycle riders should always wear helmets. More than half of the people killed in deer-related collisions were not wearing seat belts or helmets.

Use high beams to illuminate animals’ eyes at night if there is no oncoming traffic.

Be especially vigilant from sunset to midnight and shortly before or after sunrise or sunset. These are the high risk times for accidents with deer.

Brake firmly if you see a deer but stay in your lane. Accidents often happen when drivers swerve into the path of an oncoming vehicle to miss a deer or lose control of their car after seeing or hitting one.

If you hit a deer do not touch it. it could hurt you.

Call the Gardai if the deer carcass is blocking the road and is an immediate danger to other road users.

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