Deer collisions

  I have written much about safe driving, especially in winter, when deer congregate in winter feeding areas.

With the bucks rutting and the ladies running from them in the fall, then hunting for food in winter, it can be crazy.
There have been several deaths due to cars hitting deer. Deer weigh between 100 - 300 lbs., they are quite heavy beasts despite their nimbleness.

Able to leap tall cars in a single bound.

My favourite yearling, Tigger, bounces around the yard. He dances, bounds, jumps, leaps. Entertaining and worth his weight in deer feed!

Each detachment keep information about individual detachment collisions. One has to visit the Police Service Board at the local township office to find the information for each Township. But here is an article I read after a press release...

 Vehicle-wildlife collisions up in January
NorthernLife.ca

OPP warn about the hazards of driving at dawn and dusk, but especially between 6 and 9 p.m. Animals are on the move during the fall seasons (Oct., Nov., Dec.). Now they are desperate for food.  The story doesn't always end well for the driver. Seldom ends well for Bambi.

• Use your high beams. 
• Watch for unsafe passing conditions. 
• If you can't avoid hitting the deer, due to an oncoming car, then do better the deer than the car. 
• Look in the ditches, watch for deer in the headlights.

Many have posted information about avoiding deer collisions. Even EMS crews are not immune.
See EverydayEmsTips, for one post on how to avoid them.

storage shed/wood shed

While we have much lower stats in Ontario, our population is 1/10th of that in the US' 300 million...

When you consider the population of the US, the numbers are staggering.

Deer-Vehicle Collision Frequency Jumps 18 Percent in 5 Years

Sandy Smith wrote in 2009... 

Eating bird seed under the feeder

In 35 states there are 7,000 collisions a year. With an increase of cars on the road of 7%, New Jersey and Nebraska have posted the largest increase: 54 percent.  Kansas is next at 41 percent. Deer-vehicle collisions have jumped by 38 percent in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, followed by Oklahoma (34%) and West Virginia, North Carolina and Texas (33 %).

Using its claims data, insurer State Farm estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the United States during the 2-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 (100,000 per month).  That's 18.3 percent more than 5 years earlier.

Cell phone ban & travelling in Muskoka

I must admit that I never really turn my cell phone on! There are a few people I know who never give the number out, except in extreme cases. Our new law bans the use of any handheld portable devices like a DVD or phone. The fine is up to $500, but will not be enforced, at the Minister's demand, until Feb. 1, 2010 (?!).

Research shows people are 4 times more likely to be in a crash, than those who concentrate on the road and their driving (Canada Safe). Of course, those who are not giving their full attention to their driving put us all at risk.

I am very happy with the new laws that make it illegal in Ontario to use such technology in a car, while driving. Now, I am sure I'll get some negative comments on this, as I did with the recent revision to the Ontario Drinking & Driving Laws.

Muskoka roads are fast: most are highways have a posted speed limit of 80 km/hour. But few follow this. There are those who drive 20 km below the limit (also dangerous, and these people should be reported), but this is a different story as frustrated drivers try to pass in unsafe conditions. Driving safley in Muskoka includes watching out for moose and deer, as well as small animals.

This man, above right, was sitting in heavy traffic in a small town, trying to make a left-hand turn while talking on his cell phone. Obviously, a contractor (his licence plate read: I FIXUM) and I know that people in this line of work spend a lot of time on the road. This is a problem in Muskoka, where many rely on contractors, who are incredibly busy. StatCan (StatCan, 2006) tells us that 80 % of these people not only drive to work, but we have a fair number of people who are in trades, and sales & service (80 %; StatCan, 2006), and many of these people drive about servicing customers, and doing work at customer's homes. Traffic can be dense on our two-lane highways, especially in the early morning and around 4 p.m., and this is when wildlife is active. The Sounds of Silence, the myth of rural Ontario.

Our roads are fairly flat, but they wind through the granite rock of Muskoka's Precambrian Shield, and provide unsafe driving conditions in, for example, the frozen rain and sleet of November weather. Then, when the snow hits, people get even crazier!

Who bans cell phone use?
According to Canada Safe, banned locales include: Newfoundland, Quebec, Nova Scotia and, now, Ontario.

Other countries in which a ban is in force for the entire nation:

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil,Botswana, Chile, China, Czech Reblic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republik, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK. I include these, because, as with the US, the ban is limited to particular provinces and states, but it is not a nation-wide ban.

Drinking & Driving laws in Ontario

While some may think this post better belongs in My Reflections & Musings blog, I believe that the party attitude of cottage country needs an alignment. I have blogged a few times here about the tragic accidents that continue to occur, many due to drinking and driving and speed