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Road safety campaign launched to warn of increased deer collision risk


By PA News



A campaign has been launched in a bid to reduce the number of deer collisions on Scotland’s roads (Ben Birchall/PA)

A campaign aimed at reducing deer collisions on Scotland’s roads has been launched, with drivers in “high-risk areas” being warned to look out for increased numbers of roe deer.

According to nature agency NatureScot, there are almost 2,000 recorded collisions with the animals each year, with incidents typically increasing at this time of year as young roe deer spread out to look for their own territories.

The agency added the highest risk of collision comes around dusk.

The campaign, which involves NatureScot, Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland, will see roadside alerts on electronic message signs reminding drivers of the risk of deer on the road.

The focus of the campaign is in areas with an increased risk of a collision, many of which are in the country’s 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 sub-urban 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 are working... 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
Angus Corby, Transport Scotland

“We’re also continuing to explore what more can be done to mitigate the risk, including through local deer management plans.”

According to NatureScot, the top 10 areas for collisions include the A78 east of the Eglinton Interchange and north of the Warrix Interchange in North Ayrshire, the A82 Renton junction in West Dunbartonshire, and the A9 Dunblane West junction.

Angus Corby, Transport Scotland landscape and biodiversity manager, described reducing the risk of deer-vehicle collisions on Scotland’s trunk roads as “a real challenge”.

He went on: “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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