Those who live and drive in the city seldom think about hitting an animal with their vehicle, but this is a common concern shared among people who live in the city. Deer can especially be a concern, given that they often move around at dusk, when the visibility is low. Deer are also a concern because they travel in groups; this means that you might steer clear of the first deer crossing the road but subsequently hit another deer and cause significant body damage to your car that requires you to take it to a collision repair shop. While you can't fully eliminate this risk, there are several strategies that you can use to lessen the chance of experiencing this sort of vehicle damage.

Get A Grill Guard Installed

Many motorists who travel in the country get a grill guard mounted to the front of their vehicle. These heavy-duty bars can be enough to deflect a deer and prevent its weight from causing damage to your body panels. Guards of this nature can be installed by your local mechanic and can make you feel more confident when you're driving in the country. Although you probably won't want this bulky accessory on the front of smaller or sportier cars, it's ideal for trucks, SUVs and other larger vehicles.

Add Deer Whistles

An inexpensive way to reduce your risk of hitting a deer is to buy a package of deer whistles and mount them to the front of your vehicle. These small devices are designed to make a loud noise (only audible to animals) when the air passes through them, which should prompt any deer in the area to head in the opposite direction of the road. Often sold in packages of two to allow you to mount one whistle on the front of each side of your vehicle, they affix to your bumper or grill with an adhesive backing.

Watch Out For Warning Signs

When you drive in rural areas, it's useful to keep your eyes peeled for signs that alert you to the potential presence of deer. Such signs inform you that deer crossings in the area are common, and some signs even provide you with an estimate as to how large the crossing area is — for example, the next five miles. When you see such a sign, you'll know to lower your speed and make a better effort to monitor the ditches and fields beside the road, instead of simply looking at the road ahead of you.