Deer Crashes Expected To Peak In November
Authorities Urge Motorists To Use Caution
Updated: 9:09 pm CDT October 30, 2008
WASHINGTON -- A new study showed fatalities from vehicle crashes with deer and other animals have more than doubled over the last 15 years, and Wisconsin is among the leaders in the numbers of those crashes.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe report by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that 223 people died in animal-vehicle crashes in the nation last year, up from 101 in 1993. Over the past 15 years, Texas had the most deaths with 227, and Wisconsin was a distant second with 123.This year's number of car-deer crashes in Wisconsin is expected to peak soon.Don Robinson, an appraiser at Utzig Carstar Auto Body in Janesville, said he has been busy due to crashes with deer."I think we have four now from a couple of weeks ago, four deer hits. They're starting to come in now. We'll probably see 12 or 15 over the next couple of weeks," said Robinson.The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported that about a quarter of the nearly 18,000 car crashes involving deer in 2006 occurred in November."If (drivers) see (a deer), slow down. There's probably going to be another one following," said Lt. Gary Groelle, of the Rock County Sheriff's Department.In Rock County, law enforcement officers are urging motorists to watch out for deer."The peak times we're seeing for time of day are usually 5 at night to midnight, and again at 5 a.m. to about 7 a.m. -- during heavily traveled times in the morning, especially with people going to work," said Groelle.Officers are reminding drivers that deer are on the move. Authorities said that hitting a deer could be safer than trying to miss it."By swerving radically at the last minute, you may cause yourself more damage and lose control easier," said Groelle.Hitting a deer with a modern car can be costly since there are more parts and materials compared to older vehicles."Twenty years ago, a hit on the front of a Chevrolet Malibu would have maybe been a bumper, a grill and a headlamp, maybe a little bit of repair on the hood. Obviously, it's much different today," said Robinson.Robinson said that damage estimates from crashes with deer can easily run into the thousands.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe report by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that 223 people died in animal-vehicle crashes in the nation last year, up from 101 in 1993. Over the past 15 years, Texas had the most deaths with 227, and Wisconsin was a distant second with 123.This year's number of car-deer crashes in Wisconsin is expected to peak soon.Don Robinson, an appraiser at Utzig Carstar Auto Body in Janesville, said he has been busy due to crashes with deer."I think we have four now from a couple of weeks ago, four deer hits. They're starting to come in now. We'll probably see 12 or 15 over the next couple of weeks," said Robinson.The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported that about a quarter of the nearly 18,000 car crashes involving deer in 2006 occurred in November."If (drivers) see (a deer), slow down. There's probably going to be another one following," said Lt. Gary Groelle, of the Rock County Sheriff's Department.In Rock County, law enforcement officers are urging motorists to watch out for deer."The peak times we're seeing for time of day are usually 5 at night to midnight, and again at 5 a.m. to about 7 a.m. -- during heavily traveled times in the morning, especially with people going to work," said Groelle.Officers are reminding drivers that deer are on the move. Authorities said that hitting a deer could be safer than trying to miss it."By swerving radically at the last minute, you may cause yourself more damage and lose control easier," said Groelle.Hitting a deer with a modern car can be costly since there are more parts and materials compared to older vehicles."Twenty years ago, a hit on the front of a Chevrolet Malibu would have maybe been a bumper, a grill and a headlamp, maybe a little bit of repair on the hood. Obviously, it's much different today," said Robinson.Robinson said that damage estimates from crashes with deer can easily run into the thousands. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
