Deer breeding season runs from October through early January and it's evident by the number of recent automobile accidents concerning deer in the county.

the past week there have been several incidents reported by the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office concerning vehicles hitting dear on local roadways. That doesn't include accidents worked by area municipal police departments, by  the Georgia State Patrol, or those instances where law enforcement is bypassed and simply reported to insurance companies. Of the local accidents reported to the Sheriff's Office, damage was slight to moderate and there were no injuries to vehicle occupants. AM1180 reminds you to be careful of deer on the roadways and offers these tips from GEICO.

You need to keep in mind that deer are pack animals and almost never travel alone. If  you see a deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.  

The two most important ways to avoid a deer-vehicle collision are: slow down, and SLOW DOWN. If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down and observe the speed limit. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to brake if an animal darts into your path

Always wear a seat belt. The most severe injuries in deer-vehicles  collisions usually result from failure to use a seat belt, according to statistics.

Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadway and immediately begin to slow down. Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic. This will increase your visibility and give you more time to react.  Dear can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights. So if you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights. Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road. 

Also, pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals. These signs are specifically placed in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent.  If you are driving on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.