DEFIANCE COUNTY, Ohio — Deer-related crashes are on the rise in the Buckeye State. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 47% of crashes in 2022 occurred in October, November and December.
Two counties in northwest Ohio, Defiance and Hancock, rank in the top four for deer-related crashes in the state. In Defiance County, deer-related crashes are the top type of crash.
Jessica West works for the Defiance County Public Health Department and has been putting together safety material to help drivers know how to avoid hitting deer and what they should do if they do hit one.
"We are the fourth highest in the state of Ohio, and our numbers are still rising," she said of the county's deer-related crashes.
In 2022, the county reported 433 deer-related crashes. So far in 2023, the county has reported 375. Hancock County ranks slightly higher than Defiance.
West says it's expected to only get worse this season, which is peak for the crashes.
"October to December being the amp-up time, it's when they're getting a little more active, it's when we're starting to see hunting season," she said. "That's why we've been wanting to put out this messaging now."
She hopes people in the area will heed the advice because deer crashes can be expensive, and sometimes fatal.
The health department provided the following tips for drivers:
To avoid a deer-related car crash:
- Scan the road ahead
- Use high beams when there's no oncoming traffic
- Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk
- If a crash is unavoidable, apply brakes firmly and stay in your lane
- Wear a seatbelt
- Drive alert and undistracted, and sober
What to do if you are involved in a deer-related car crash:
- Call local law enforcement or 911
- Avoid the deer. Frightened/wounded animals can be dangerous
- Activate hazard lights
- If possible, move vehicle to a safe location
- Contact your insurance
West stresses that people facing a deer in the road should not try to get out of the deer’s way and stay in their lane instead.
"Anytime you swerve, you don't know what's around you, what you could run into or run off the road into,” she said. “So hit the deer, save your life."
Since every insurance company is different, West recommends you contact them to find out about their policy and deer-related crashes.