Kentucky State Police: Deer / Automobile Collisions

Home > Deer / Automobile Collisions

Deer / Auto Collisions in Kentucky

For Other Kentucky Government Sites Visit:

Images of Deer in Field Believe it or not, when it comes to our worst enemy in the animal kingdom, sharks, alligators, snakes and other commonly feared animals need not apply. In fact, none of the "terrifying" animals portrayed as "killers" in our culture are responsible for the most human deaths.

The animals that claim the largest number of lives in the United States are deer. Statistics provided by the United States Department of Transportation indicate that car accidents involving deer on roads cost nearly 100 human lives and millions of dollars in insurance claims each year. According to Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org), the average cost per insurance claim for collision damage is $2,800, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of damage. When you factor in auto claims involving bodily injury, the average rises to $10,000.

While the percentage of deer collisions resulting in a fatality is relatively low in Kentucky as compared to the nation, it is extremely important to recognize this ever-present risk. October, November, and December months see a huge increase in deer activity because of the run of mating season. Nearly 47% of all collisions with deer annually take place during this three-month period. November is by far the month of highest deer / auto collision incidence.

Deer / Auto collisions also follow a pattern over a 24 hour period. The highest likelihood for a collision with deer is during the peak hours in the evening between 5 PM and 8 PM, and in the morning between 5 AM and 8 M. 53% of all collisions happened in that timeframe for past five years.

On this page, you can view the following information:

Annual Deer / Auto Collisions

Updated 10/06/09

Year	Number of Deer Collisions	Fatalities	Injured
2004	3,067	3	213
2005	2,843	1	215
2006	2,928	1	180
2007	2,917	3	160
2008	2,958	2	180

(Source: KSP CRASH)

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2004-2008

Deer / Auto Collisions by Month

October, November, and December months see a huge increase in deer activity because of the run of mating season. Nearly 47% of all collisions with deer annually take place during this three-month period. The following shows an average number of collisions in the Commonwealth per month over the past five-year period. November is by far the month of highest deer / auto collision incidence.

Month	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Total	Average
January	180	243	195	224	198	1,040	208
February	173	190	146	143	149	801	160
March	162	167	186	159	186	860	172
April	183	144	170	176	184	857	171
May	184	193	220	178	220	995	199
June	188	201	212	210	226	1,037	207
July	154	133	145	171	164	767	153
August	119	95	108	157	108	587	117
September	186	111	145	246	148	836	167
October	393	401	370	348	428	1,940	388
November	825	713	692	650	684	3,564	713
December	320	252	339	255	263	1,429	286

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2004-2008

High Detail Kentucky Deer Collision Map

Updated 10/06/09

This map shows concentrations of reported deer collisions over a five-year period in the month of November.

Click here or on the image thumbnail
for a high resolution deer collision
map in Adobe pdf format.

Deer Collisions by County - Total Percentage

The map below shows an average number of deer / auto collisions for each county over the past five years.

Check here to see a larger map (File size 2.20 MB, print size 34X44 inches, Adobe Acrobat Reader is Required)

County	Five Year Total	Annual Average
ADAIR	78	16
ALLEN	118	24
ANDERSON	73	15
BALLARD	28	6
BARREN	302	60
BATH	50	10
BELL	71	14
BOONE	730	146
BOURBON	64	13
BOYD	318	64
BOYLE	58	12
BRACKEN	69	14
BREATHITT	27	5
BRECKINRIDGE	72	14
BULLITT	96	19
BUTLER	29	6
CALDWELL	58	12
CALLOWAY	145	29
CAMPBELL	467	93
CARLISLE	9	2
CARROLL	120	24
CARTER	97	19
CASEY	26	5
CHRISTIAN	234	47
CLARK	64	13
CLAY	38	8
CLINTON	33	7
CRITTENDEN	41	8
CUMBERLAND	12	2
DAVIESS	279	56
EDMONSON	60	12
ELLIOTT	28	6
ESTILL	33	7
FAYETTE	109	22
FLEMING	31	6
FLOYD	148	30
FRANKLIN	427	85
FULTON	40	8
GALLATIN	50	10
GARRARD	22	4
GRANT	259	52
GRAVES	197	39
GRAYSON	175	35
GREEN	18	4
GREENUP	143	29
HANCOCK	88	18
HARDIN	360	72
HARLAN	47	9
HARRISON	153	31
HART	113	23
HENDERSON	368	74
HENRY	122	24
HICKMAN	18	4
HOPKINS	541	108
JACKSON	31	6
JEFFERSON	594	119
JESSAMINE	63	13
JOHNSON	73	15
KENTON	345	69
KNOTT	61	12
KNOX	112	22
LARUE	65	13
LAUREL	150	30
LAWRENCE	42	8
LEE	11	2
LESLIE	20	4
LETCHER	15	3
LEWIS	59	12
LINCOLN	61	12
LIVINGSTON	117	23
LOGAN	230	46
LYON	148	30
MADISON	141	28
MAGOFFIN	53	11
MARION	59	12
MARSHALL	313	63
MARTIN	18	4
MASON	251	50
MCCRACKEN	284	57
MCCREARY	44	9
MCLEAN	78	16
MEADE	126	25
MENIFEE	20	4
MERCER	64	13
METCALFE	85	17
MONROE	11	2
MONTGOMERY	55	11
MORGAN	72	14
MUHLENBERG	288	58
NELSON	205	41
NICHOLAS	29	6
OHIO	146	29
OLDHAM	212	42
OWEN	63	13
OWSLEY	20	4
PENDLETON	132	26
PERRY	36	7
PIKE	102	20
POWELL	35	7
PULASKI	193	39
ROBERTSON	4	1
ROCKCASTLE	84	17
ROWAN	203	41
RUSSELL	57	11
SCOTT	165	33
SHELBY	245	49
SIMPSON	64	13
SPENCER	48	10
TAYLOR	145	29
TODD	62	12
TRIGG	170	34
TRIMBLE	61	12
UNION	81	16
WARREN	283	57
WASHINGTON	50	10
WAYNE	37	7
WEBSTER	94	19
WHITLEY	51	10
WOLFE	51	10
WOODFORD	92	18

(Source: KSP CRASH)

Deer / Auto Collisions by Time of the Day for November

An image of the Deer/Auto Collisions for the month of November 2000-2004

Time of Day	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Average	Percent of Total
12:00 AM - 00:59AM	27	23	22	20	19	22.2	3.10%
1:00 AM - 1:59AM	17	15	14	13	17	14.75	2.06%
2:00 AM - 2:59 AM	20	7	12	15	17	13.5	1.89%
3:00 AM - 3:59 AM	10	12	16	13	14	12.75	1.78%
4:00 AM - 4:59 AM	15	6	17	19	14	14.25	1.99%
5:00 AM - 5:59 AM	33	27	21	22	30	25.75	3.60%
6:00 AM - 6:59 AM	56	61	40	35	34	48	6.71%
7:00 AM - 7:59 AM	46	34	40	52	36	43	6.01%
8:00 AM - 8:59 AM	19	13	7	18	15	14.25	1.99%
9:00 AM - 9:59 AM	15	11	7	14	8	11.75	1.64%
10:00 AM - 10:59 AM	7	21	9	6	11	10.75	1.50%
11:00 AM - 11:59 AM	12	4	8	12	10	9	1.26%
12:00 PM - 12:59 PM	6	5	14	13	9	9.5	1.33%
1:00 PM - 1:59 PM	7	6	6	4	4	5.75	1.08%
2:00 PM - 2:59 PM	6	6	6	2	8	5	0.70%
3:00 PM - 3:59 PM	8	7	6	10	8	7.75	1.08%
4:00 PM - 4:59 PM	22	14	19	11	15	16.5	2.31%
5:00 PM - 5:59 PM	93	77	74	61	84	76.25	10.65%
6:00 PM - 6:59 PM	122	112	114	91	89	109.75	15.33%
7:00 PM - 7:59 PM	82	79	78	67	80	76.5	10.69%
8:00 PM - 8:59 PM	61	61	49	46	59	54.25	7.58%
9:00 PM - 9:59 PM	60	48	37	39	45	46	6.43%
10:00 PM - 10:59 PM	43	32	35	31	35	35.25	4.93%
11:00 PM - 11:59 PM	36	29	38	30	23	33.25	4.65%

(Source: KSP CRASH)

Defensive Driving Tips to avoid hitting a deer

Keep a close watch for deer in the early morning and evening hours. Deer are most active during these times.
Be especially alert and drive with caution when you are moving through a known deer crossing zone.
Use your high-beam headlights whenever possible.
Upon seeing a deer, immediately slow down. Do not swerve - because this can confuse deer as to where to run. It could also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car.
Look for other deer after one has crossed the road. Deer are often found in herding packs.
Always wear your seatbelt. Most people injured and/or killed in deer - automobile collisions were not wearing their seat belt.

What to do when you Strike a Deer

If you are unable to avoid a collision with a deer, take the following steps:

Do not touch the animal! The deer, in attempting to move or get away, could hurt you or itself.
Remove your automobile from the roadway, if possible.
Call the police.

Kentucky State Police Headquarters
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-695-6300