Drivers urged to slow down for deer

In a bid to cut the number of animal collisions as well as reduce the risk of a breakdown, motorists have been urged to "slow down for deer".

Research by breakdown service Autonational Rescue showed every year some 74,000 deer become victims of road accidents in the country.

Such crashes can result in up to 700 human casualties, costing over £21 million a year.

Together with The Deer Initiative, Autonational is calling on drivers to watch out for deer and other animal while behind the wheel.

Autonational marketing manager Ronan Hart said: "We are facing a serious problem in the UK's countryside and on the outskirts of our towns and cities and we know that it's getting worse as the deer population increases and our roads get busier.

"There are probably around 200 accidents a day involving deer, and the costs per vehicle with an average insurance claim costing £300, could be reaching as much as £60,000 a day across the UK."

Dr Jochen Langbein, of The Deer Initiative, said: "It's a much bigger problem than people realise and not something that happens once in a blue moon to motorists."