By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It’s around dusk on a random Thursday. I’m driving along Highway 50 near the Moore County, Franklin County line when out of nowhere a deer darts from the right tree line and in front of my car. I don’t swerve. I take my foot off the gas and hope for the best. I’m a country girl. I know where there’s one, there’s bound to be several, so I scan the roadside. At this time of day and with the green of summer fading to a dingy brown, they aren’t easy to spot.

It’s peek rutting season for white-tailed deer here in Moore County. The deer population are twitter pated and not doing their best thinking.

According to state safety officials, there are nearly 8,000 deer-related crashes each year in our state and Tennessee ranks 32 in states where you are most likely to be involved in a deer-vehicle collision. Most crashed happen between October and December with November being the peak month. Most crashed occur between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.

With so much of Moore County existing along rural, narrow, tree-lined roads, it pays to be extra careful this time of year to avoid collisions with deer.

According to the state, damage to a vehicle from a collision with an animal is covered under an auto policy’s optional comprehensive coverage. If you only have collision coverage or liability coverage, your insurance carrier will not cover damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an animal.

Here are some simple steps you can take to avoid an accident:

1 | If you see one deer, you should expects others to be nearby. Slow down.

2 | Deer signs are placed at known deer-crossing areas. Pay attention and reduce your speed when you see these signs.

3 | From sunset to midnight and shortly before and after sunrise are the most common times for deer travel.

4 | Make sure your headlights are in working order to improve your night vision. Using high beams can help spot wildlife, but be considerate of other drivers when using them.

5 | Stay focused while driving. Do not text, talk on your phone or allow passengers to distract you.

6 | Never swerve to miss a deer. Stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars. Simply brake firmly and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.

7 | Do not attempt to move an injured or dead deer from the roadway. Deer can inflict serious injuries.

Tennessee law allows deer killed in a collision to be taken and used as food, as long as you contact the nearest Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) regional office and report the accident within 48 hours. Moore County exists in Region 2 District 22 and may be reached by phone at 615-781-6622 or 800-624-7406. •

{The Lynchburg Times is a locally-owned and locally-operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee and one of the few women-owned newspapers in the state. It’s owned by a Tulane University-educated journalist with over 20 years of experience. We’re supported by both readers and community partners who believe in independent journalism for the common good. You can support us by clicking here. }