Deer-Car Collisions Rising During Fall and Winter

The number of deer or elk involved in car accidents typically rises in the fall and winter in part because of the longer hours of darkness.

Utah State University Terry Messmer said another reason is that the animals migrate from higher elevations to lower ones as it gets colder.

“As deer settle into these seasonal habitats, there’s where the possibility of increased conflicts with human beings can occur.

And those conflicts can happen at a frightening rate according to Messmer.

“Current estimates suggest that well over two million deer-vehicle collisions occur annually and those are the ones that are just reported.”

Messmer said some of the ways to avoid accidents are; drive the posted speed limit, use your brights when possible, drive in the passing lane if there is one to allow more reaction time, and being deer aware by scanning the side of the road for signs of deer and being aware of deer crossing areas.