HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – In 2023, a total of 3,228 highway crashes in Kentucky were caused by a vehicle striking a deer. Of the total crashes, 96 of them were in Christian County. As fall temperatures settle in and winter approaches, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) wants to remind motorists to watch out for deer and other wildlife.
“Crashes involving large animals tend to increase from October through December,” said KYTC State Highway Engineer James Ballinger in a news release. “Increased movement by deer and reduced visibility on roadways, especially between dawn and dusk, can create hazardous driving conditions.”
According to Joe McDermott, the deer program coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), deer are roaming more right now because of mating season, or rut. Shorter days and cooler nights that come with the season put deer on the move.
“Motorists should be extra cautious in the early morning and late evening hours when deer are going to be most active as they search for food and for mates during the rut,” McDermott said. “Collisions with deer will be more likely through December as the rut will make bucks focus only on chasing does, oblivious to most everything else, including traffic.”
On average, U.S drivers have a one in 128 chance of a collision with an animal. However, Kentucky ranks above the national average at one chance in 98. To partner with these statistics, KYTC is working with the KDFWR to study wildlife-vehicle collisions. They are set to receive a $1.2 million federal grant aimed to make roadways safer for people and wildlife.
DON’T MISS A STORY: Click here to sign up for Christian County Now’s free weekly email newsletter