Deer crossing signs in Iowa

[MichaelB]

As reported in the Des Moines Register, the Iowa DOT posted the following Facebook comment:

Deer can't read signs. Drivers can," the Facebook post continued. "This sign isn't intended to tell deer where to cross, it's for drivers to be alert that deer have been in this area in the past."

Good thing they cleared that up. .

Article here Iowa Department of Transportation on deer crossing signs

 

[HadEnuff]

Well, duh!!!,,,I KNOW deer can't read signs. I assumed that's why they put a picture on the sign.

 

[Amethyst]

If deer could read signs, they'd just eat anything valuable, poop all around and cross somewhere else. Deer are like that.

 

[Red Badger]

If deer could read signs, they'd just eat anything valuable, poop all around and cross somewhere else. Deer are like that.

+1
But they are "good eats."

 

[MRG]

+1
But they are "good eats."

They grow them big in Iowa. All that corn. First time I saw a Iowa whitetail I thought it was a much larger beast then a deer.

 

[ERD50]

Well, duh!!!,,,I KNOW deer can't read signs. I assumed that's why they put a picture on the sign.

Yea, but then the DOT puts the signs turned so the driver can see the picture - the picture should be at 90 degrees to the road, so the deer can see the picture and know where to cross!

Stupid DOT!

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"
"To prove to the raccoon it could be done"

-ERD50

 

[Ronstar]

I don't know if the deer can read the signs or not. But they certainly don't look both ways before crossing the road. There are hundreds of them splattered along I-80.

 

[Hermit]

I don't know if the deer can read the signs or not. But they certainly don't look both ways before crossing the road. There are hundreds of them splattered along I-80.

As pretty typical here, I had to stop for a couple of deer in the dark of early morning today.

 

[CardsFan]

FWIW, a quick check on Wikipedia shows:
"The number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities varies from year to year and region. In the United States an estimated 1.23 million deer related accidents occurred in a one-year period ending June 2012 (a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year), resulting in $3,305 in average property damage. The largest proportion of such accidents occur in November."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer–vehicle_collisions

I knew there were a lot, but this number is far more than I would have guessed.

As an aside, when we lived in a rural area about 10 years ago, the local parish priest totaled two cars in two weeks. Fortunately, he was not hurt, but the deer did not make it.

 

[jazz4cash]

Here's the bit I was looking for:
"We actually get this question on a pretty regular basis: 'Why don't you put these signs where it is safer for the deer to cross?'" the Iowa DOT said in a Facebook post Tuesday

 

[athena53]

Just made a road trip from KC to Des Moines last week and there were a lot of dead deer along I-35. The message is worth repeating- hitting a deer with your car is dangerous for you AND the deer.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

We're coming into rut season up here in Wisconsin, when the bucks lose what little sense they have while chasing after carnal knowledge. On top of that, they don't see very well except in total darkness (edit).

Within the last four years I've had two large bucks run into the side of my car after does crossed in front of me. This time of year, if you see a doe crossing the road, look out for a bigger, dumber buck coming right behind it. As in Iowa, the brutes get big, way over 100 pounds.

I've stopped driving much just after dusk in November because of the hazard, which is compounded by the headlights of oncoming traffic limiting peripheral vision.

BTW, next month someone will put red reflectors on the noses of the deer icons on some crossing signs in my area. They've done it for years.

 

[CoolRich59]

Lot of deer in our area (far northwest suburb of Chicago).

One thing I have learned: If you see one deer, you can be pretty sure a couple more are there as well.

This is important to keep in mind when a deer dashes across the road a couple of hundred feet in front of you. I hit the brakes when I see one do that because there's a good chance a couple more are about to come dashing into the roadway following the first.

Doing this has allowed me to avoid more collisions with deer than I can count.

 

[Ronstar]

I've hit about 5 of them over the past 45 years. A small doe did $4k in damage to my corvette when I exited my driveway at 20mph. Haven't hit one in 5 years since I don't drive much in the dark.

 

[MRG]

Just made a road trip from KC to Des Moines last week and there were a lot of dead deer along I-35. The message is worth repeating- hitting a deer with your car is dangerous for you AND the deer.

When we lived in around Warrensburg MO. a local hit a buck and it came through the windshield. I spoke with a deputy that worked the fatal accident. According to him, both human and deer survived the crash, the deers antlers finally caused the drivers death.

 

[happy2bretired]

They’re fighting too.

With human help, battle-locked deer buck the odds
http://journalstar.com/news/state-a...cle_7979a032-3b55-526f-a79d-188f375c3e32.html

 

[imoldernu]

Chances are:

 

[rdy2go]

In Central Texas we have deer like stray cats. The rut reminds me of fraternity-sorority rush, but without alcohol.

 

[braumeister]

Fortunately, most deer collisions are survivable (by the humans, not the deer or the vehicle). The ones to really be afraid of are elk and moose. Much more likely to kill all involved.

I'll never forget one dark November night in the backwoods of Maine when I was driving a little too fast for conditions. Barely avoided hitting a moose that probably weighed half as much as the car I was driving. Two passengers kidded me about it for the next week, saying I owed them for new underwear.

 

[CoolRich59]

Not only are moose bigger, they cop an attitude too.

We were camping in either Canada or Maine. I had headed into a nearby town for some provisions and was heading back to the campground in the late dusk when I rounded a turn and almost hit a moose walking in the middle of the road.

I came to a stop and waited for him to head to one side or the other. Instead, after giving me a dirty look, he turned and sauntered on down the middle of the road.

There was no way I was going to try and pass him, so meekly followed him at a safe distance. It seemed like a while, but was probably only a couple of hundred feet when he decided at last to leave the road and head into the forest, allowing me to continue on my way.

 

[pb4uski]

Well, duh!!!,,,I KNOW deer can't read signs. I assumed that's why they put a picture on the sign.

Since they can't read, why don't we make them go to school?

OTOH, fuggetaboutit.... let's not give the NEA any ideas on how to expand their base.

 

[MRG]

Fortunately, most deer collisions are survivable (by the humans, not the deer or the vehicle). The ones to really be afraid of are elk and moose. Much more likely to kill all involved.

I'll never forget one dark November night in the backwoods of Maine when I was driving a little too fast for conditions. Barely avoided hitting a moose that probably weighed half as much as the car I was driving. Two passengers kidded me about it for the next week, saying I owed them for new underwear.

Yeah I won't drive after dark if it's avoidable in big game country. DW sees a specialist in Durango, those appointments are always scheduled for 1:00 PM.

Of course loose farm animals can be deadly too. I have a good buddy that had a late night drunken(he's in recovery today) encounter with a cow. Didn't end well for either. He avoided the dui, but couldn't explain the cow tracks on top of his datsun away. Made for a good story during his drinking years.

Wouldn't want to hit a hog either.

ETA: Couple years ago, not far from here, a young guy lost his life in a motorcycle and wild turkey collision.

 

[Curmudgeon]

“Think of how stupid the average person is... and realize half of them are stupider than that!”
- George Carlin

 

[MissMolly]

Audio of lady calling into a Fargo radio stations requesting deer crossing signs be moved to a safer place. It's a hoot

https://youtu.be/RFCrJleggrI

 

[audreyh1]

In Yellowstone once a full size bison was walking down the middle of the road coming towards us. I didn't want to pass it in my car, so I waited by the side of the road. Another car came up behind it, it moved to one side of the road, the car passed it, and it returned to the middle of the road. Hmmmm - I guess it understood traffic rules.