Young driver news - First time car insurance holders should be aware of deer

Motorist news - Deer rutting season creates potential hazards on UK roads

First time car insurance holders, who may be unused to the various hazards and distractions which can occur on the UK's roads near conservation areas and in the countryside, should look out for deer as the year progresses into October.

It is around this time that rutting begins and deer will move to their breeding areas, often across roads.

Not only might they run across UK highways in front of vehicles, but, as stated on the Discover Wildlife website, "male deer are pumped full of testosterone and highly aggressive" so they may even attack a car, or walker, who gets too close for comfort.

Deer collision claims always increase in October, according to a 2009 news report on the AA website.

In the same report, the company's director states, "Deer are an often-unseen hazard until it's too late. As darkness falls collisions happen with little or no warning as the animals may literally leap out of woodland into the road. But places where deer are most likely to be seen are indicated by triangular hazard warning signs showing an image of a deer.

"At 60 miles per hour, hitting a deer is serious – not just for the animal but car occupants as well. A natural reaction is to try to avoid the collision but as a result, drivers may miss the deer and hit other vehicles or trees which could be even worse.

"Cars can easily be written off in a collision with a deer and car occupants are often injured. Not only that, an increase in premium is likely to follow as some or all of any no-claim bonus will be lost, unless it's protected."

Young drivers who were not aware of this hazard, and want to keep the no-claims bonus on their first time car insurance, should pay particular attention to the road ahead when there is potential for deer to be present in the area.