A deer in the headlights is one hazard of driving through Southeastern Indiana.
October and November have historically been the worst months for deer-vehicle collisions and the amount of accidents have been on the rise in recent years.
In fact, animal-vehicle collisions have gone up dramatically by almost 69 percent since the 1990’s.
The rise in deer-vehicle accidents in the fall can be directly linked to multiple factors including the mating season of deer, farmers in the field and more cars on the road, according to District 9 Conservation Officer Bill Beville.
“All of those factors are probably the reason why accidents have risen over recent years,” Officer Beville said.
“Annually we do see an increase in car-deer collisions in the fall, mainly because of the harvest and mating season.”
Hunting season and improved technology that allows farming operations to continue around the clock are also contributing factors.
Deer are most active during dawn and dusk. According to Beville, “Drivers should be especially cautious during the two hours window before and after sunrise and sunset.”
It is important to always scan the roadway, use high beams, and if a collision is imminent, stay calm and don’t swerve.
“Drivers need to be alert and watch for animals entering the roadway. Just by keeping your eyes up and not being distracted by other things, you can greatly decrease the possibility of a deer-car collision.”
