If deer dispensed driving advice right now, they’d warn us that they’re distracted, unpredictable, and pursuing (or being pursued) because of the annual rut. They’d also scold us that we’re too often distracted behind the wheel and not working to avoid them on our travels. Most importantly, they’d tell us to put our biggest distraction – phones – down and get our gaze back on the road.

The reality is it’s challenging enough to spot deer when we’re not distracted. But failing to watch for them at all makes us most vulnerable to collisions. In 2023, there were 8,023 reported crashes between vehicles and animals on Iowa roads. Of those, five people were killed, 23 people suffered serious injuries and more than 260 more were listed on crash reports with minor injuries.

Deer don’t follow our rules of the road and often demand the right of way, so follow their tips to avoid them:

• Slow down: Be especially alert at dawn and dusk.

• Eliminate distractions: Put away phones and other distractions.

• Scan the road and roadsides: Be vigilant and shrubs/grasses where they could dart out.

• Look for eyeshine: When possible, use high-beam headlights for better sighting and look for reflective animal “eyeshine.”

• Plan for more: If you see one, more will likely follow.

• Brake, not veer: Apply your brakes and stay in your lane.

In 2024 in Iowa, 294 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of two since last Friday. In Iowa in 2023, there were 377 traffic-related deaths.