The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has issued its annual “antler alert,” warning Kentucky drivers to be on the lookout for deer while driving. Nearly half of all car accidents involving deer occur in the latter three months of the year, according to the cabinet.
“Crashes involving large animals tend to increase from October through December,” said KYTC State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “Increased movement by deer and reduced visibility on roadways, especially between dawn and dusk, can create hazardous driving conditions. That’s why we take time out each year to remind motorists to wear their seat belt, eliminate distractions and take other precautions when animals are on the move.”
The increase is due to several factors. Deer mating season takes place from mid-October to November, and deer tend to be more active during that time period. Crop harvesting, shorter days and colder nights also increase the tendency for deer to roam.
More than 3,200 highway crashes involving collisions with deer occurred in Kentucky last year, the highest total number in the last five years. Boone and Campbell Counties ranked in the top ten counties for collisions with 121 collisions and 84 collisions, respectively. On average, U.S. drivers have a 1 in 128 chance of a collision with an animal, according to an analysis of collision data from State Farm Insurance. Kentucky’s chances of collision are 1 in 98.
