Photo by pablo.raw

Virginia drivers might not be as horrible as their Maryland counterparts, but, yeah, they’re still pretty bad. The last thing they need is an additional distraction on the roadways.

But it’s autumn, and with the changing of the leaves and the cooler weather comes a seasonal annoyance: Fucking deer. Literally.

It’s mating season for the forest-dwelling creatures that sometimes venture onto high-speed roads and cause collisions. But WTOP reports that Fairfax County officials are trying to cut down on the number of deer-related traffic incidents by issuing a set of handy tips. Among the pointers are:

• Slow down. The slower you’re driving, the more time you have to avoid the deer if you see it.
• Use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic, to widen your area of visibility.
• Notice Deer Crossing signs.
• Watch for “eye shine” or light reflecting off a deer’s eyes. When you see it, slow down.
• If a deer is “frozen in the headlights,” flash them, since steady lights can mesmerize deer.

Simple, but important advice. As for what the government can do, Fairfax County runs an active deer management program to help control the local population. Qualified bowhunters and shooters who win a lottery are invited to take part in public hunts, while select members of the Fairfax Police Department’s SWAT team conduct sharpshooting exercises. In 2010, the program cut down the deer population by 400.

In D.C., the National Park Service takes similar measures with respect Rock Creek Park, where the deer population reached an all-time high in 2011. In May, National Park Service officials said Rock Creek Park was currently home to four times as many deer as it could handle. Beginning this year and continuing into 2013, the Department of Agriculture will deploy sharpshooters and bowhunters of its own to cut down the deer population.

In the mean time, drivers everywhere best be vigilant for deer getting it on in the middle of the street. You nasty, deer.