INTRO – Drivers are warned to exercise caution on the roads with increased deer activity. George Olsen has more.
Deer activity increases between October and December with mating and hunting seasons, increasing the likelihood of animal related automotive collisions. A press release from the state Department of Transportation says there were 17,831 animal related crashes in 2014… the lowest number since 2006. About 90% of those crashes between 2012 and 2014 involved deer. Over the past three years animal related crashes have resulted in nearly 3400 people suffering injuries … including 11 fatalities… as well as nearly $145 million in property damage. D-O-T says the largest number of crashes last year occurred between 5 and 7 am and 6 and 11 pm … times when deer movement increases and motorist visibility decreases with an earlier sunset. I’m George Olsen.
