Why Fall Is Peak Season for Deer-Car Collisions, and How to Stay Safe

The increasingly shorter days paired with deer mating season make this the most dangerous time of the year for deer collisions. Here is what you need to know about this threat, including how you can reduce your risk of hitting a deer while driving.

Fall is Peak Time for Deer and Vehicle Collisions

Deer and vehicle collisions peak during the fall months. The shorter days combine with the natural deer mating season to increase this threat. According to automotive agency AAA Northeast, deer are much more active during their mating season, sending them out into populated areas with greater frequency.

In addition to the uptick in activity, deer also tend to behave more erratically as they enter mating season, also known as the rut. Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, recently told meteorological news agency AccuWeather that this is when deer "start engaging in bad behavior, unpredictable behavior, especially running out into a road."

Just as deer are more likely to dart in front of a vehicle, drivers have a harder time seeing the animals due to the decrease in sunlight. Deer are inherently more active around dawn and dusk, coincidentally when motorists are more likely to be commuting to and from work. 

The low light and sun glare during these periods of the day exacerbate the risk. Deer are particularly hard to spot after dark in areas with no streetlights.

Sinclair also warns that nighttime is the most dangerous time because deer tend to freeze when they see headlights. This means that the deer is more likely to stop right in front of a vehicle rather than continuing on its way across the road.

While deer collisions used to be limited to rural areas, increased urban development has encroached on the natural habitat of these animals. As such, deer are more likely to be roaming more populated areas than they were a few decades ago.

As Sinclair explains, “You can run into deer anywhere. Urban, rural, it doesn’t matter."

What the Data Says About the Prevalence of Deer Collisions

State Farm insurance agency estimates that there were more than 1.6 million animal-vehicle collision insurance claims across the U.S. between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The insurer confirmed that it paid $1.9 billion in animal-vehicle collision claims during this time frame, with deer being the most commonly hit animals.

State Farm puts the odds of an animal collision at 1 in 145, an improvement from 1 in 139 the previous year. The state with the greatest threat of these collisions is West Virginia, followed by Montana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cites similar figures, confirming more than 1.5 million crashes between vehicles and live animals from 2020 to 2024. Of these crashes, 948 were reported to be fatal. Over 40% of these crashes happened between September and December. The NHTSA data looks at crashes rather than insurance claims.

Sinclair said that drivers can reduce their risk of hitting a deer by scanning road shoulders as they drive. As always, it is important to adhere to speed limits and slow down in areas with deer crossing signs.

It is also important to remember that deer travel in packs. If you see one deer, there is likely to be more nearby.

Experts advise drivers not to swerve if a deer enters the road. A sudden turn can send the vehicle into another car, a tree, or off the road. State Farm said that the better course of action is to brake firmly and stay in the lane if possible.

Data from New Jersey backs this advice up. Injuries were reported in just 4.5% of the crashes when the deer was hit directly. This compares to an injury rate of over 27% when the driver swerved and hit another vehicle or object. 

Many states are now building specially designed wildlife overpasses and underpasses to provide animals with a safe crossing. Fencing around the crossing guides the animals toward the pass.

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