Kentucky State Police: Deer / Automobile Collisions

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Deer / Auto Collisions in Kentucky

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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. 52% 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 09/24/08

There has been a slight downward trend in deer / auto collisions over the last four years in Kentucky.

Year	Number of Deer Collisions	Fatalities	Injured
2003	3,144	2	198
2004	3,067	3	213
2005	2,843	1	215
2006	2,928	1	180
2007	2,917	3	160

(Source: KSP CRASH)

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2003-2007

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	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	Total	Average
January	167	180	243	195	224	1,009	202
February	136	173	190	146	143	788	158
March	191	162	167	186	159	865	173
April	228	183	144	170	176	901	180
May	223	184	193	220	178	998	200
June	271	188	201	212	210	1,082	216
July	176	154	133	145	171	779	156
August	100	119	95	108	157	579	116
September	152	186	111	145	246	840	168
October	467	393	401	370	348	1,979	396
November	767	825	713	692	650	3,647	729
December	266	320	252	339	255	1,432	286

Chart of Collisions with Deer 2003-2007

High Detail Kentucky Deer Collision Map

Updated 09/24/08

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	103	21
ALLEN	107	21
ANDERSON	77	15
BALLARD	31	6
BARREN	284	57
BATH	56	11
BELL	72	14
BOONE	730	146
BOURBON	58	12
BOYD	294	59
BOYLE	56	11
BRACKEN	77	15
BREATHITT	31	6
BRECKINRIDGE	76	15
BULLITT	94	19
BUTLER	24	5
CALDWELL	66	13
CALLOWAY	142	28
CAMPBELL	472	94
CARLISLE	15	3
CARROLL	116	23
CARTER	110	22
CASEY	27	5
CHRISTIAN	252	50
CLARK	67	13
CLAY	37	7
CLINTON	37	7
CRITTENDEN	44	9
CUMBERLAND	14	3
DAVIESS	255	51
EDMONSON	44	9
ELLIOTT	37	7
ESTILL	32	6
FAYETTE	107	21
FLEMING	38	8
FLOYD	139	28
FRANKLIN	408	82
FULTON	31	6
GALLATIN	46	9
GARRARD	20	4
GRANT	229	46
GRAVES	196	39
GRAYSON	178	36
GREEN	21	4
GREENUP	154	31
HANCOCK	88	18
HARDIN	355	71
HARLAN	40	8
HARRISON	138	28
HART	106	21
HENDERSON	408	82
HENRY	119	24
HICKMAN	22	4
HOPKINS	536	107
JACKSON	33	7
JEFFERSON	535	107
JESSAMINE	68	14
JOHNSON	76	15
KENTON	395	79
KNOTT	59	12
KNOX	123	25
LARUE	65	13
LAUREL	156	31
LAWRENCE	36	7
LEE	9	2
LESLIE	16	3
LETCHER	16	3
LEWIS	64	13
LINCOLN	61	12
LIVINGSTON	127	25
LOGAN	240	48
LYON	155	31
MADISON	148	30
MAGOFFIN	46	9
MARION	54	11
MARSHALL	336	67
MARTIN	17	3
MASON	242	48
MCCRACKEN	311	62
MCCREARY	46	9
MCLEAN	76	15
MEADE	144	29
MENIFEE	21	4
MERCER	66	13
METCALFE	86	17
MONROE	11	2
MONTGOMERY	55	11
MORGAN	77	15
MUHLENBERG	293	59
NELSON	204	41
NICHOLAS	33	7
OHIO	176	35
OLDHAM	243	49
OWEN	53	11
OWSLEY	23	5
PENDLETON	145	29
PERRY	33	7
PIKE	83	17
POWELL	34	7
PULASKI	166	33
ROBERTSON	6	1
ROCKCASTLE	73	15
ROWAN	197	39
RUSSELL	80	16
SCOTT	172	34
SHELBY	269	54
SIMPSON	70	14
SPENCER	52	10
TAYLOR	167	33
TODD	64	13
TRIGG	175	35
TRIMBLE	63	13
UNION	85	17
WARREN	293	59
WASHINGTON	44	9
WAYNE	31	6
WEBSTER	90	18
WHITLEY	48	10
WOLFE	61	12
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 2000-2004

Time of Day	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	Average	Percent of Total
12:00 AM - 00:59AM	22	27	23	22	20	22.8	3.14%
1:00 AM - 1:59AM	14	17	15	14	13	14.6	2.01%
2:00 AM - 2:59 AM	13	20	7	12	15	13.4	1.85%
3:00 AM - 3:59 AM	16	10	12	16	13	13.4	1.85%
4:00 AM - 4:59 AM	24	15	6	17	19	16.2	3.64%
5:00 AM - 5:59 AM	29	33	27	21	22	26.4	3.64%
6:00 AM - 6:59 AM	41	56	61	40	35	46.6	6.42%
7:00 AM - 7:59 AM	26	46	34	40	52	39.6	5.45%
8:00 AM - 8:59 AM	20	19	13	7	18	15.4	2.21%
9:00 AM - 9:59 AM	10	15	11	7	14	11.4	1.57%
10:00 AM - 10:59 AM	9	7	21	9	6	10.4	1.43%
11:00 AM - 11:59 AM	9	12	4	8	12	9	1.24%
12:00 PM - 12:59 PM	6	6	5	14	13	8.8	1.21%
1:00 PM - 1:59 PM	13	7	6	6	4	7.2	0.99%
2:00 PM - 2:59 PM	9	6	6	6	2	5.8	0.80%
3:00 PM - 3:59 PM	7	8	7	6	10	7.6	1.05%
4:00 PM - 4:59 PM	29	22	14	19	11	19	2.62%
5:00 PM - 5:59 PM	79	93	77	74	61	76.8	10.58%
6:00 PM - 6:59 PM	119	122	112	114	91	111.6	15.37%
7:00 PM - 7:59 PM	74	82	79	78	67	76	10.47%
8:00 PM - 8:59 PM	56	61	61	49	46	54.6	7.52%
9:00 PM - 9:59 PM	48	60	48	37	39	46.4	6.39%
10:00 PM - 10:59 PM	53	43	32	35	31	38.8	5.34%
11:00 PM - 11:59 PM	38	36	29	38	30	34.2	4.71%

(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