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. "The Insurance Information Institute estimates that there are more than 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 occupant deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage. An additional billion dollars is spent on medical payments for injuries to people in the car and out-of-pocket expenses paid by vehicle owners, bringing the total cost to approximately $4.6 billion. The average claim for deer-vehicle collisions is $3,000, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of the damage." (quoted from (http://www.iii.org/press_releases/warning-to-motorists-fall-is-peak-season-for-deer-vehicle-collisions.html)

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 03/20/13

Year	Number of Deer Collisions	Fatalities	Injured
2008	2,958	2	180
2009	3,070	1	176
2010	3,118	4	169
2011	2,976	3	146
2012	2,798	0	140

(Source: KSP CRASH)

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2008-2012

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	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	Total	Average
January	198	183	175	199	204	959	192
February	149	146	170	198	164	827	165
March	186	159	194	195	182	916	183
April	184	179	171	168	166	868	174
May	220	206	197	234	187	1,044	209
June	226	228	209	230	201	1,094	219
July	164	130	153	136	136	719	144
August	108	114	111	120	114	567	113
September	148	140	177	152	127	744	149
October	428	374	461	350	380	1,993	399
November	684	940	812	697	679	3,812	762
December	263	271	288	297	258	1,377	275

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2008-2012

High Detail Kentucky Deer Collision Map

Updated 03/20/13

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 2.17 MB, print size 34X22 inches, Adobe Acrobat Reader is Required)

County	Five Year Total	Annual Average
ADAIR	82	16
ALLEN	214	43
ANDERSON	127	25
BALLARD	41	8
BARREN	253	51
BATH	26	5
BELL	59	12
BOONE	760	152
BOURBON	68	14
BOYD	412	82
BOYLE	68	14
BRACKEN	44	9
BREATHITT	29	6
BRECKINRIDGE	54	11
BULLITT	89	18
BUTLER	40	8
CALDWELL	86	17
CALLOWAY	169	34
CAMPBELL	498	100
CARLISLE	20	4
CARROLL	159	32
CARTER	96	19
CASEY	29	6
CHRISTIAN	370	74
CLARK	54	11
CLAY	63	13
CLINTON	39	8
CRITTENDEN	39	8
CUMBERLAND	11	2
DAVIESS	340	68
EDMONSON	62	12
ELLIOTT	22	4
ESTILL	26	5
FAYETTE	129	26
FLEMING	34	7
FLOYD	153	31
FRANKLIN	394	79
FULTON	35	7
GALLATIN	46	9
GARRARD	24	5
GRANT	262	52
GRAVES	227	45
GRAYSON	144	29
GREEN	37	7
GREENUP	90	18
HANCOCK	64	13
HARDIN	441	88
HARLAN	50	10
HARRISON	152	30
HART	121	24
HENDERSON	355	71
HENRY	150	30
HICKMAN	15	3
HOPKINS	607	121
JACKSON	29	6
JEFFERSON	517	103
JESSAMINE	49	10
JOHNSON	80	16
KENTON	362	72
KNOTT	60	12
KNOX	95	19
LARUE	56	11
LAUREL	108	22
LAWRENCE	61	12
LEE	6	1
LESLIE	10	2
LETCHER	21	4
LEWIS	43	9
LINCOLN	70	14
LIVINGSTON	100	20
LOGAN	143	29
LYON	130	26
MADISON	122	24
MAGOFFIN	56	11
MARION	42	8
MARSHALL	240	48
MARTIN	13	3
MASON	223	45
MCCRACKEN	96	19
MCCREARY	60	12
MCLEAN	106	21
MEADE	103	21
MENIFEE	16	3
MERCER	63	13
METCALFE	83	17
MONROE	0	0
MONTGOMERY	59	12
MORGAN	67	13
MUHLENBERG	314	63
NELSON	198	40
NICHOLAS	36	7
OHIO	114	23
OLDHAM	182	36
OWEN	97	19
OWSLEY	7	1
PENDLETON	131	26
PERRY	47	9
PIKE	143	29
POWELL	42	8
PULASKI	305	61
ROBERTSON	3	1
ROCKCASTLE	108	22
ROWAN	192	38
RUSSELL	33	7
SCOTT	187	37
SHELBY	258	52
SIMPSON	62	12
SPENCER	68	14
TAYLOR	156	31
TODD	109	22
TRIGG	98	20
TRIMBLE	80	16
UNION	92	18
WARREN	243	49
WASHINGTON	79	16
WAYNE	20	4
WEBSTER	109	22
WHITLEY	66	13
WOLFE	46	9
WOODFORD	91	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 2008-2012

Time of Day	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	Average	Percent of Total
12:00 AM - 00:59AM	19	24	30	22	22	23.4	3.07%
1:00 AM - 1:59AM	17	30	26	20	16	21.8	2.86%
2:00 AM - 2:59 AM	17	15	25	11	8	15.2	1.99%
3:00 AM - 3:59 AM	14	24	17	10	8	14.6	1.92%
4:00 AM - 4:59 AM	14	16	22	19	15	17.2	2.26%
5:00 AM - 5:59 AM	30	41	30	29	32	32.4	4.25%
6:00 AM - 6:59 AM	34	57	54	53	49	49.4	6.48%
7:00 AM - 7:59 AM	36	49	49	44	39	43.4	5.69%
8:00 AM - 8:59 AM	15	19	27	13	16	18	2.36%
9:00 AM - 9:59 AM	8	12	13	10	14	11.4	1.50%
10:00 AM - 10:59 AM	11	17	14	12	6	12	1.57%
11:00 AM - 11:59 AM	10	11	8	5	4	7.6	1.00%
12:00 PM - 12:59 PM	9	7	10	4	7	7.4	0.97%
1:00 PM - 1:59 PM	4	5	7	2	3	4.4	0.58%
2:00 PM - 2:59 PM	8	4	5	7	2	5.2	0.68%
3:00 PM - 3:59 PM	8	5	4	5	6	5.6	0.73%
4:00 PM - 4:59 PM	15	10	18	23	11	15.4	2.02%
5:00 PM - 5:59 PM	84	94	72	68	72	78	10.23%
6:00 PM - 6:59 PM	89	167	136	103	37	118.4	15.53%
7:00 PM - 7:59 PM	80	105	60	70	73	77.6	10.18%
8:00 PM - 8:59 PM	59	76	67	51	43	53.8	7.76%
9:00 PM - 9:59 PM	45	67	57	42	58	53.8	7.06%
10:00 PM - 10:59 PM	35	53	39	30	41	39.6	5.19%
11:00 PM - 11:59 PM	23	31	22	44	37	31.4	4.12%

(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
502-782-1800