Beware Of Bambi! It’s Peak Season for Car-Deer Crashes

Sept. 29--COLUMBUS -- Motorists beware: It's peak season for car-deer collisions, each of which typically results in a $4,135 repair bill, according to the Ohio Insurance Institute.

The most likely time that cars and deer collide is 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and the second most likely time is 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Collisions with deer are most likely from October to December, during the peak breeding season.

The five counties with the highest number of car-deer accidents in 2014 were: Stark, 512; Richland, 510; Lorain, 510; Clermont, 482; and Hamilton, 433.

The number of deer-vehicle accidents dropped 2.5 percent in 2014 over 2013, to 19,705 from 20,201. Over the past three years, deer-vehicle collisions have on average resulted in 927 injuries and six fatalities per year.

Ohio ranks sixth in the nation for registered vehicles with 11.5 million and seventh nationwide for licensed drivers with nearly 8 million.

The Ohio Insurance Institute advises: drive at or below posted speed limits in areas with high deer activity; if you see deer on or near the road, expect others to follow; and use high beams if there is no oncoming traffic.

State law allows a driver who strikes a deer to take the carcass by first getting a deer possession receipt from law enforcement or wildlife officers.

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