STRICTLY BUSINESS: HIGH-TECH HITTING THE HIGHWAYS

In the coming months, we'll see everything from night vision to radar that regulates distance from other cars and voice control that will automatically set the temperature and radio station.

The former can be a "life saver," too.

With deer populations at new highs in Illinois and Missouri, night vision, which uses an infrared camera to help drivers see things far beyond the headlights' glow, can help cut down on the nation's more than 250,000 deer-vehicle accidents each year that result in more than 100 deaths and 15,000 injuries.

Night vision projects an image of the road ahead on a small patch of windshield just above the wipers. Deer, cars, other animals and pedestrians are visible from the heat they emit.

Drivers have to get used to the idea, however. The infrared image can be a distraction.

The system does not show signs, traffic lights or anything the same temperature as its surroundings.

Night vision is factory-installed in certain automobiles, but it an be installed at a cost of about $2,000.

Deer can be found on the move twice a year, in summer and fall. Only last weekend, this driver had to elude a couple of deer, making their way across a road.

Conservation officials warn motorists to be on the lookout now.

Every year, more than 17,000 deer-vehicle accidents are reported in Illinois; as many as 7,000 such accidents are reported in Missouri. Defensive driving is necessary, and a few minor adjustments in traveling habits can reduce the risk of colliding with a deer. A good first step is to reduce your travel during the evening and early morning hours when the animals are most active.

Cape Girardeau has the potential for an urban deer problem, said one conservation official. Of the state's 7,560 vehicle-deer collisions during a recent year, 40 were in Cape Girardeau County. Deer-vehicle accidents have been reported on North Kingshighway, Sprigg Street, and Mount Auburn and Hopper roads.

Here are some tips to avoid deer-related accidents:

- Slow down immediately when you spot a deer, if you can do so without causing a traffic hazard. Do this even if the deer already has crossed the road. The animal could turn back into your path. Also, deer often travel in groups, and others may follow.

- Deer often are confused by vehicle headlights. When you see a deer, flash your lights or sound your horn to warn the deer of your approach. Use emergency flashers or pump your brakes to alert vehicles behind you to the danger ahead.

- Some deer-auto collisions are unavoidable, occurring when deer run into the sides of moving vehicles or leap in front of cars. If this happens, don't swerve wildly to avoid the animal. Some of the most severe deer-related accidents happen when drivers lose control of their vehicles while trying to avoid deer. In one incident, a vehicle swerved to miss a deer, ran off the road and overturned, killing a person.

- Report deer-vehicle accidents to local law enforcement officials. Your report will help authorities track the incidence of deer-vehicle accidents.

Back to high technology:

Today, as a driver punches in a remote, keyless code to open the door, things start happening inside some vehicles seats automatically adjust to the owner's liking, the radio starts playing, tuned to a special station at just the right volume.

Computers prepare the car for its driver, by automatically setting the seat, rear view mirror and radio station and volume and air-conditioning and heating, recalling the driver's preference as to position of the seat, rear view mirrors, audio control and the personal preference for temperature.

A motorist can now spend some "down time" during a traffic jam reading e-mail, checking the balance in the family checkbook or finding out last night's sports scores.

A passenger in the car might surf the Internet.

Or, the child in the back seat might play a video game.

Today's cars have become a complex system of rolling electronics, mirroring the computer age in which we live.

Computers can also decipher when the car needs a tune-up, and which spark plug is bad.

They can tell the owner when the car needs an oil change and when a tire is losing air, and which tire it is.

There's more ... much more.

Headlights can turn on by sensing how dark it is outside, on-board diagnostic abilities alert the driver if any of the computerized functions start to malfunction.,

If a problem occurs, the "service engine soon" sign appears, advising the driver to have the car checked by a mechanic.

The system can spot many types of malfunctions early, before they become a major problem.