The Kansas Highway Patrol is advising all motorists to be cautious of deer activity on and around Kansas roadways this fall. Because deer-breeding season generally runs from October into December, law enforcement officers routinely investigate a large number of vehicle-deer crashes this time of year.

"With the increasing number of deer moving during the fall and winter months, it is of the utmost importance that motorists on our roadways take extra precautions when operating their vehicles," KHP Superintendent Col. Terry Maple said. "There were five fatalities and 298 injuries on Kansas roads last year from vehicle-deer collisions. The Kansas Highway Patrol is urging drivers to be alert and watch for deer. This added precaution could potentially save drivers and their passengers from injuries on our highways."

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Deer continue to pose a significant traffic hazard in Kansas, accounting for 13.3 percent of all collisions in the state last year. According to Kansas Department of Transportation statistics, 9,417 vehicle-deer crashes occurred on Kansas roadways in 2007. In 2007, the cost for vehicle-deer collisions in the state totaled $61,331,650.

The Kansas Highway Patrol offers the following tips to avoid and mitigate vehicle-deer crashes:

* Intentionally look for deer. Be especially alert at dawn and dusk, which are the peak movement times for deer and when visibility is low.

* Drivers should increase the following distance between vehicles, which will give the driver additional time to slow down and avoid a collision.

* Drive at a modest speed, particularly on roads near woods, parks, streams, or creeks. Reducing speed will decrease the likelihood of striking a deer.

* Watch for deer-crossing signs, which are placed in areas where vehicle-deer collisions have occurred frequently.

* Deer usually travel in groups. When one deer crosses the road, there may be others about to cross. Be prepared to stop for others darting into the road.

* Slow down when approaching deer standing near roadsides. They have a tendency to bolt, possibly onto the roadway. Use emergency flashers to warn oncoming drivers after seeing deer near a roadway.

* Always wear a seat belt and use child safety seats when appropriate.

Some of the most serious crashes occur when drivers lose control of their vehicles trying to avoid an animal. Do not take unsafe evasive actions. It is usually safer to strike the deer than to strike another object, such as a tree or another vehicle. A driver who hits a deer should pull over onto the shoulder, turn on the vehicle's emergency flashers, and watch for traffic before exiting the vehicle. Motorists should not try to remove a deer from the roadway unless he or she is sure the animal is dead; an injured deer could hurt a person. Drivers or passengers who have cellular phones can dial *47 (*HP) for the nearest Highway Patrol dispatcher or *582 (*KTA) for assistance on the Kansas Turnpike.

Anyone involved in a vehicle-deer crash that results in personal injury or property damage that totals $1,000 or more is required to immediately report the crash to the nearest law enforcement agency. Failure to report any traffic crash is a misdemeanor and may result in suspension of driving privileges, a KHP statement said.