AAA: Deer crashes increasing by leaps and bounds in Massachusetts, with southern MA communities leading the way; here are tips to avoid collisions

WESTWOOD, Mass., — As the days get shorter and temperatures cool down, the odds of hitting a deer on the road heat up.

Most deer-related crashes occur between October and December, close to sunset. This time of year coincides with deer rutting — or mating — season, which is when deer are on the move and more aggressive than usual. Because Northeast deer populations have grown dramatically over the past few decades, deer crashes have been rising steadily.

The consequences of deer crashes can be devastating, especially in collisions with large deer at high speeds. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2022, 173 people were killed in crashes where the first harmful event was a collision with a live animal and more than 33,000 people were injured; nearly half of these crashes occurred between October and December.

“Extra vigilance is required to anticipate and avoid a deer darting into the roadway, especially during evening hours,” said Mark Schieldrop, Senior Spokesperson, AAA Northeast. “Deer are unpredictable and can appear in front of your vehicle suddenly and without warning. Remember, if you see one deer, there’s a good chance that more deer are nearby.”

In Massachusetts, there were 1,908 deer crashes from October to December 2023. In fact, there were more deer crashes last year than any year since 2002, based on available crash data. That’s equivalent to one deer crash every 70 minutes.

Crashes were most common near sunset (6 – 8 p.m. before the clock change, and 5 – 7 p.m. after the clock change), with 81% of deer crashes occurring outside daylight hours.

The top counties for deer crashes were Plymouth (332), Bristol/Worcester (322), Middlesex (252) and Essex (135).

The top towns for deer crashes were Westport (56), Middleborough (44), Swansea (34), Lakeville/Taunton (25), Plymouth/Uxbridge/Westford (24), Andover (23) and Freetown (22).

AAA offers the following tips for helping to avoid deer crashes:

• Scan the shoulders of the road in front of you; deer may dash out from the shoulder or wooded areas adjacent to the road.
• Follow the speed limit; keeping your speed down will give you more time to respond to unexpected wildlife movements.
• Be careful rounding curves and climbing hills where visibility is limited.
• One long blast on your horn may frighten animals away from your car if you notice them early enough.
• If you spy one deer, look out for others; deer rarely travel alone.
• Use your high beams along dark roadways if there is no oncoming traffic.
• If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and try to remain in your lane and avoid other vehicles; swerving sharply can cause an even more serious crash.
• Wear your seat belt; your chances of being injured in a deer crash are significantly higher if you don’t have your seat belt on.
• If a crash occurs, move the vehicle to a safe location if possible and report the incident to the Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075, according to the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
• Contact your insurance company to report any damage to your car. Take photos of the damage if you can do so safely and without entering the roadway. Damage to the car from animal crashes generally falls under a driver’s comprehensive coverage.