MOUNT VERNON — Driving down the roads of Knox County it is easy to spot deer in fields and among the trees. It is also common to see deer carcasses along the side of the road where one has collided with a car. Knox County led the state again last year in deer collisions per capita. According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, only Hamilton County, with its much higher number of drivers and vehicles had more collisions in 2007.
Six hundred and nineteen vehicle deer collisions were documented by the OII last year in Knox County. According the Ohio State Highway Patrol 10 people were killed statewide, and over 1,000 were injured.
The high cost of repairs due to the damage caused by these collisions is also a concern. These costs rise every year. Knox County Sheriff David Barber said deer collisions happen to his officers as well. “We’ve unfortunately had deer strike cruisers on occasion and they can cause extensive property damages as well as injuries,” Barber said.
Knowing how to safely share the road with deer starts with understanding why deer seem to love to run right in front of vehicles, especially at this time of year.
“November is the peak month,” said Ohio Department of Wildlife Officer Mike Miller of deer crashes. “Crops are harvested so there are fewer places for them to hide and hang out, and it’s when they ‘rut’ during the start of breeding season.”
Miller said deer have mating on their minds this time of year, and little else. “Bucks are acting more erratically this time of year, kind of like teenage boys in high school,” Miller joked. “A buck in pursuit will run right in front of you.”
The OSHP confirms more deer crashes happen in November than any other month. In fact, 22 percent happen in November.
The time of day you are traveling also influences the chances you will encounter a deer on the roadway. Eighty percent happen at night or at dawn or dusk.
Barber said drivers need to be very mindful, especially with the recent time change which means it is darker at an earlier time. Many commuters are driving home after dark.
“Deer are crepuscular and nocturnal,” Miller explained. This means deer are most often on the move just before dark and just after dawn. “They do move all night,” Miller added.
Where you are traveling is also important. Miller said certain stretches of road in the county are frequent sites of deer collisions.
“Route 36 east and west of Mount Vernon, especially from Thayer Road to Mount Liberty, we see a lot,” said Miller. He said U.S. 36 from Ohio 308 to Apple Valley is also a dangerous stretch for deer crashes, as is Ohio 13 north and south of Mount Vernon.
Barber said while deer are common on country roads, they have also been seen more around the city and other populated areas.
Miller said drivers should also be aware where they see one deer, there will almost always be another close behind. He said drivers should scan at night and be aware of break lights ahead of them which could mean a deer has run into the road ahead.
He said while keeping your high beams on at night can make deer easier to spot, deer whistles and other gadgets for your vehicle designed to keep deer out of your path are ineffective. “Deer whistles, none of that stuff works,” Miller cautioned. “The only thing that works is to drive defensively and slow down.”
Barber said careful driving and the law required use of seat belts are always important, and the impact deer can have on a vehicle means seat belts can make a lifesaving difference.
If you do hit a deer with your vehicle, Barber said it is best to call law enforcement right away. “It’s best to call at the time of the accident,” he said. “There can be disabling damage to the vehicle and the dead deer can cause a road hazard.”
Miller said drivers or passersby who wish to process a deer killed in a collision need to obtain a deer receipt from his office, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, or the OSHP.
