CHAPEL HILL – As we enter the last weeks of November, many of our thoughts turn to the holidays.  But as drivers, we need to be focused on something other than that good parking space while out shopping.

The cooler weather has brought with it the hunting season and the annual time when deer start to mate.  As these animals travel, they have no concept of cars and trucks when they cross roads.  The rural areas around Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough are perfect places to be faced with a deer in your pathway.

William Brown is the owner of Brown’s Auto and Collision in Chapel Hill.  He says that his shop hasn’t gotten too busy, yet with car-deer accidents.

“We haven’t been too busy,” Brown says. “It’s kind of off right now.”

But when they do occur, Brown says they can be costly.

“Depending on the type of car and what the parts cost, (they) average about $1,800 to $2,500,” Brown says.

Brown says, the best way to avoid an accident with a deer is to drive defensively.

“Pay attention to where they’re driving,” Brown says. “Look at the side of the roads.”

Brown also points out that you don’t have to hit a deer in order to be involved in a deer-related accident…

“A lot of times the damage is caused because people try not to hit them and run off the road and hit something else,” Brown says.

Not only can an accident involving your car and a deer be damaging to your vehicle, it can also cause personal injury to you and your passengers and even death.

Related Stories
‹
Average US Vehicle Age Hits Record 12.6 Years as High Prices Force People to Keep Them Longer
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cars, trucks and SUVs in the U.S. keep getting older, hitting a record average age of 12.6 years in 2024 as people hang on to their vehicles largely because new ones cost so much. S&P Global Mobility, which tracks state vehicle registration data nationwide, said Wednesday that the average vehicle […]
How to Cushion the Financial Hit From Sky-high Gas Prices
Written by TOM KRISHER Any motorist who has had to fill up lately could be forgiven for wincing in disbelief. Fueled largely by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gas prices worldwide have skyrocketed. In the U.S., they’ve reached record highs above $4.30 a gallon. That’s 50%, or $1.43 per gallon, more than they were a year […]
Orange County Sets Guidelines for Hunters and Their Dogs as Hunting Season Starts
Orange County Animal Services is preparing for hunting season by promoting awareness of the legal requirements and responsibilities of using dogs to hunt deer. Deer season opens on Saturday, November 14, and ends on January 1. At the direction of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, county staff hopes to mitigate health and safety concerns […]
3 Crashes, 3 Deaths Raise Questions About Tesla's Autopilot
Three crashes involving Teslas that killed three people have increased scrutiny of the company’s Autopilot driving system just months before CEO Elon Musk has planned to put fully self-driving cars on the streets. On Sunday, a Tesla Model S sedan left a freeway in Gardena, California, at a high speed, ran a red light and […]
Tu for Two: Dream Machines
You’ve probably heard his voice enough to recognize it from a wide variety of commercials over the years, but Mark Jacobson does more than pitch you on purchasing a new or pre-owned car from one of his dealerships. If you head to the top of the “Used Car Superstore” in Durham, you’ll find the Dream […]
AAA Warns of '100 Deadliest Days' for Teen Drivers
Over the past five years, over 1,600 people were killed in crashes involving young drivers in the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. AAA refers to this as the “100 Deadliest Days”. 16 and 17-year-olds are already three times as likely as adults to be involved in a fatal crash. But over the 100 […]
Road Safety In 2014; World Book Night; Home For The Holidays
The Town of Chapel Hill is kicking off 2014 by asking you to make a resolution to drive with care and pay attention when walking or biking.
Securing Your New Purchases During The Holidays
Chapel Hill Police are increasing patrol and warning shoppers to always be prepared when returning to your car and home with merchandise.
DMV Cautions Buyers On Flood-Damaged Cars
After last week’s flood, the Division of Motor Vehicle’s License and Theft Bureau issued a reminder to watch out for flood-salvaged cars when buying a new ride.
Stop Speed Bumps!
Guest Column by Eric Plow In spite of a bad economy, dwindling tax revenues, and unmanageable fiscal debt, cities and towns all over the US have passed bonds (translation: borrowing money) to install thousands of speed bumps, along with 3-way and 4-way stop signs, in an effort to appease neighborhood activists who want to inconvenience anyone […]
›