Motorists urged to be aware of deer on busy stretch of road
CONCERNED Cove and Kilcreggan locals are urging drivers to be aware of deer as dozens cross a busy 60mph road every day.
Around 40 to 60 deer are crossing the B833 at Cove and Kilcreggan daily with one deer a week being killed on the stretch of road.
This is according to the Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council, who are now conducting a survey of the deer in the Rosneath Peninsula to find ways to raise awareness of the animals for their safety and the safety of road users.
Convenor John Auld said: “There were no deer in the peninsula 15 years ago but we now have 40 to 60 deer crossing the B833 every day.
“We need to make things safer for them and we’re trying to gently raise awareness.
“Those animals [can be] over 54 kilos imagine a car or a cyclist hitting that. There is the potential for things to go seriously wrong.
“We don’t have any tools to do anything about it other than raise awareness.
“I accept there is probably nothing that can be done but there’s the potential to make people take the deer into account.”
To conduct their tracking efforts, the council have asked locals to notify them of sightings and provide photos, locations, and the date and time the sighting was recorded so they can track deer on the roads.
The community council hope that by collecting a better understanding of the deer in the area, they will be able to effectively raise awareness of the issue and help prevent incidents involving the animals on the road.
Police Scotland have echoed the concerns of the community council and have called on drivers to be careful on the B833 and the roads surrounding the peninsula.
A Police Scotland representative said: “We would always urge caution to drivers on rural roads particularly those drivers who are less familiar with our roads network in Argyll.
“Driving through Argyll can be an amazing experience, offering stunning views however, these roads are often shared with wildlife, increasing the risk of collisions with animals.
“To ensure your safety and protect wildlife, it is essential to be aware of the potential hazards
and take precautionary measures.
“Wild animals can be unpredictable and given their size, can pose a threat and risk to safety of road users.
“We have had tragic examples in the past with wild animals particularly deer, which has resulted in serious injury and even fatal road traffic accidents.
“Deer, especially species like roe deer, fallow deer, and red deer, are a significant concern on rural roads.
“Collisions with deer can be particularly dangerous due to their size and tendency to travel
in groups.”
Police have advised drivers to stay alert; reduce their speed; use full-beam headlights when driving in the dark; dip headlights if deer are spotted to not startle them; keep an eye out for groups; avoid swerving and only brake sharply and stop if there is no danger of being hit by a vehicle behind you.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Roads and Infrastructure Services are currently in the process of having signage erected to improve road safety and to urge road users to use caution in this stretch of road.