A road safety campaign has been launched to warn drivers in Scotland to look out for roe deer on the roads.
Collisions between deer and vehicles typically increase at this time of year as young roe deer spread out to look for their own territories, with dusk the period of highest risk.
NatureScot’s spring road safety campaign got underway on 23 May 23, with Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland.
Alerts on electronic variable message signs (VMS) will remind drivers of the risk of deer on the road until 13 June.
Electronic messaging is being used in areas where there is an increased risk of a collision – many of which are in the central belt.
Dominic Sargent, NatureScot deer policy officer, said: “According to the data, there are almost 2,000 recorded collisions between vehicles and deer across Scotland each year, and many more will go unreported.
“In urban and suburban areas, roe deer live close to people and transport routes, and high-risk areas for incidents include road junctions and major interchanges, some of which have areas of woodland and scrub nearby where roe deer can shelter, feed and even have their young.
“This campaign will remind drivers in these areas to be alert and slow down to help reduce the likelihood of collisions. We’re also continuing to explore what more can be done to mitigate the risk, including through local deer management plans.”
Angus Corby, Transport Scotland landscape and biodiversity manager, said: “Reducing the risk of deer-vehicle-collisions across Scotland’s Trunk Road Network is a real challenge, and Transport Scotland is pleased to continue our important partnership with NatureScot to tackle the issue.
“We are working closely together to establish and maintain a picture of the high-risk areas across the country, so we can focus our mitigation efforts and make them as effective as possible, both for road-user safety as well as the welfare of the deer.”
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