Ohio continues into peak time for deer-involved crashes
Ohio State Highway Patrol warns motorists to lookout for deer
COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists of the increase in
deer-involved crashes during this time of year.
Since 2019, there have been 109,507 deer-involved crashes on Ohio roadways. While 95%
of deer-involved crashes only resulted in property damage, 44 crashes were fatal and
resulted in 45 deaths. Additionally, from 2019-2023, 47% of these crashes occurred in
October, November and December, with 22% occurring in November alone.
“Practicing safe driving habits and staying fully focused on the road increases your chances
of spotting deer before it’s too late,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent.
“If you do strike a deer, prioritize your safety by moving to a secure location if possible,
turning on your hazard lights and reporting the incident.”
The most crashes involving deer have happened in Stark (3,138), Richland (2,880),
Hancock (2,725) and Defiance (2,560) counties. Combined, these four counties accounted
for 10% of all deer-involved crashes. Additionally, more than 100 deer-involved crashes
have happened in all but one Ohio county since 2019.
Simple tips to avoid an animal collision are: scan the road ahead, use high-beam headlights
when able, be extra cautious at dawn and dusk and if a collision is unavoidable, brake –
don’t swerve to stay in your lane.
Motorists are reminded they can safely dial #677 from their mobile device to be connected
to the nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol Post during a roadway emergency.
A statistical map containing deer-involved crash information can be found here and
additional information on crash statistics can be found on the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s
Ohio Statistics and Analytics for Traffic Safety (OSTATS) Dashboard.