Autumn is here, and with its beauty also comes an increase in danger. Car crashes double in October, November, and December, and 90% of them are due to deer. There were 21,000 animal-related crashes in Arkansas in 2021. Autumn is both mating and hunting season, so deer are driven out of their habitat.
Plus, dusk and dawn hours (when deer are most active) are extended, increasing the likelihood of driver-deer encounters.
The number of collisions was greatest between 5:30 p.m. and midnight, with a smaller peak occurring between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. These time periods are consistent with peak deer activity periods in Arkansas.
Tips if you see a deer on the road:
- Don't swerve
- Don't touch a wild animal, dead or alive
- Call 911 to report roadkill
- Maintain safe following distances
- If you see a deer, slow down and press the horn -- and note that there are probably others around it.
Photo: Getty Images