Potomac Intersections Marked as High-Risk for Deer Collisions

The number of car accidents involving deer increased in Montgomery County over the last year, and several intersection around the county are contributing to the increase — many intersections falling on main roads in Potomac.

Intersections along Falls Road, Seven Locks Road, River Road and Montrose Road are considered high-collision areas for car accidents involving deer, according to reports by the 1st District of the Montgomery County Police Department.

"We've seen lots of accidents in Potomac, but we don't know if the increase is because of Potomac," said Chair of the Deer Management Work Group, Rob Gibbs. "We've had a high number of deer collisions in the last decade."

In 2009, the Montgomery County Police Department recorded more than 1,900 deer-vehicle collisions — an increase of more than 100 from the deer-vehicle collisions in 2008, according to a news release from the Deer Management Work Group. The specific number of collisions in Potomac is not known; however, accidents involving deer are common in Potomac, Gibbs said.

Despite the increase in deer-vehicle collisions in 2009, the number of deer-related accidents has been steadily decreasing since 2002, Gibbs said.  The number of deer-vehicle collisions decreased by almost 300 collisions from 2002 until 2008—an achievement Gibbs said he attributed to the deer management program.

The deer management program, which works to reduce the number of deer-vehicle collisions and damage deer do to crops and home landscaping in Montgomery County, will not come to Potomac even though Deer Management Work Group recommends starting a program here. 

Because of budget shortfalls, Potomac will not have a deer management program in the city even though deer management does target the deer population on county parkland in the area.

The Deer Management Work Group recognized the need to reduce deer-vehicle collisions and recommended increased management in some down-county areas reporting damage, including Potomac.

"We can't keep up with the demand for deer management," Gibbs said

Deer-vehicle collisions are a threat, but being aware and alert when driving can prevent an accident, said Montgomery County Police officer and the director of the animal services division, Captain Mike Wahl.

"Deer tend to travel in areas like field edges and wooded areas, which are common in Potomac," Wahl said.  "Drivers need to be aware when they are close to those areas where deer can be."

Deer are more present at deer at dawn and dusk and drivers should also pay attention to the road ahead and look for the "eye shine" of a deer, Wahl said. If a driver sees the eye shine, slow down because deer are very unpredictable.

"Just because they are on side of road, doesn't mean they are going to stay there —they can dart out in front of you," Wahl said. "The best advice is slow down. We want drivers to be aware and pay attention."