Fri Nov 20 2009
By JARED ORZOLEK
Car-deer accidents rose in five of the six counties in the Defiance area from 2007 to 2008, bucking statewide numbers that saw deer-vehicle collisions decrease 6.5 percent in 2008.
The Ohio Insurance Institute (OII) reports that drivers should be aware of the risk of colliding with deer during the upcoming deer-breeding season.
More than 24,500 deer-vehicle collisions occurred in Ohio last year, down 6.5 percent from the 26,304 crashes reported in 2007, according to OII.
"A lot of these accidents can be prevented if you have heightened awareness," said Defiance County Sheriff Dave Westrick. "This
time of year, deer lose their sense of direction. Slow down, often you can see them coming even in the dark if you have heightened awareness."
Locally, 434 car-deer collisions occurred in Defiance County in 2008, up 1.4 percent from the 428 reported in 2007, OII reported.
In Fulton County, car-deer numbers rose 16.2 percent in 2008 to 308, up from 265.
The number of vehicles striking deer was also up in Williams County, where 523 collisions were reported in 2008, up 1.2 percent from 517 in 2007.
In Putnam County, the number of car-deer accidents totaled 157 last year, up 9.8 percent from the 2007 total of 143.
Paulding County's total was 190 in 2008, up two from 2007.
Henry County was the only area county to experience a drop in car-deer accidents, where numbers dropped 5.4 percent from 224 in 2007 to 212 in 2008.
Westrick indicated that some car-deer accidents cannot be prevented and explained that drivers should avoid taking extreme evasive action -- which could lead to a more serious crash -- in an attempt to avoid a whitetail. According to OII, there were six fatalities and 979 injuries caused by these accidents in Ohio last year. This compares to 10 fatalities and 1,022 injuries reported in 2007 and 12 fatalities and 1,024 injuries in 2006.
The county with the highest number of reported deer-vehicle collisions in 2008 was Summit with 601 followed by Hamilton with 592.
Counties reporting the fewest collisions in 2008 included Monroe with 29 and Meigs with 45.
Most deer-vehicle collisions occur from October through January, which is deer-breeding season.
Last November, there were 5,179 collisions -- the highest number for any month -- and peak hours for these crashes were 5 p.m.-1 a.m. followed by 5-8 a.m., OII stated.
November was also the worst month for car-deer crashes in the six-county area, with 386 accidents reported in 2008.
State wildlife officials estimate Ohio's current deer population at 650,000, down from its 2008 herd estimate of 700,000.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), vehicle damage from deer collisions averages about $3,000 per claim nationally.
The Ohio Highway Patrol provides the following tips for avoiding deer on the roadway:
-- Drive with extreme caution in areas with deer-crossing signs.
-- If one deer is on or near a roadway, expect others to follow.
-- After dark, use high beams when there is no opposing traffic. High beams will illuminate the eyes of deer and provide greater motorist reaction time, but don't rely solely on high beams to deter collisions.
-- Always wear a safety belt as required by state law and drive at a safe, sensible speed for conditions.
-- If a collision with a deer seems probable, then hit it while maintaining full control of your vehicle. Don't swerve to avoid striking a deer. Brake firmly and stay in your lane.
-- Stay alert. Deer are always unpredictable. They often dart out into traffic.
-- Report any deer-vehicle collisions to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.
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