Stay Alert for Deer During Fall Months

Did you know that over the past three years during the Fall months alone, North Carolina motorist were involved in over 58,000 animal-related crashes? 

As the temperature starts dropping and leaves start falling, another sign of the changing season is more deer along North Carolina roadways, and in turn a greater chance of a collision with a deer.

Over the last three years (between 2012-2014), nearly half of the 58,372 animal-related crashes in the state took place in October through December. About 90 percent of those involved deer.  Lee County was ranked 47th in reported deer related crashes during this three year period.

Increased activity and decreasing daylight hours mean extra attention by motorists to their surroundings is needed for their safety and the safety of others. 

Deer are on the roadways more during the fall into winter months due to the hunting and mating seasons. They also travel more at dawn. This is the time of the year it grows dark in the evenings, with the time change coming at 2 a.m. on November 1, when we turn clocks back an hour. The largest number of crashes in 2014 came between 5 and 7 a.m., and 6 and 11 p.m. In addition to more deer moving about and crossing roads at those times, decreased driver visibility makes it more difficult to see the animals on or near roadways.

Here are some suggestions for motorists to avoid being in a deer-vehicle crash:

  *   Slow down in posted deer crossing areas and heavily wooded areas, especially during the late afternoon and evening;

  *   Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in deer-vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belt;

  *   Statistics indicate most deer-vehicle crashes occur in areas where deer are more likely to travel through, such as near bridges or overpasses, railroad tracks, streams and ditches;

  *   Drive with high beams on when possible, and watch for eyes reflecting in the headlights;

  *   Remember that deer often travel in groups, so do not assume that if you see one deer cross the road, there won’t be others following;

  *   Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away;

  *   Increase the distance between your vehicle and other cars, especially at night. If the car ahead of you hits a deer, you may also become involved in the crash;

  *   Do not swerve to avoid a collision with deer. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle, flipping it over, veering it into oncoming traffic or overcorrecting and running off the road, causing a more serious crash;

  *   Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences or reflectors to deter deer as these devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle crashes; and

  *   If your vehicle strikes a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. The best procedure is to get your car off the road if possible, and call 911.

 Below is a link that provides more detailed information on crashes per NC county.


https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/documents/crash%20data%20and%20information/2014%20animal%20crash%20data.pdf