COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is warning drivers of the increase in deer-involved crashes during this time of the year.
Since 2019, OSHP reports there have been 109,507 deer-involved crashes on Ohio roads. From 2019 to 2023, 47% of these crashes happened in October, November and December, with 22% occurring in November alone.
While 95% of deer-involved crashes only result in property damage, 44 crashes were fatal, resulting in 45 deaths.
"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."
OSHP offered some tips drivers can use to avoid an animal collision, including scanning the road ahead, using high beams when possible and being extra cautious at dusk and dawn. If a collision is unavoidable, brake — don't swerve to stay in your lane.
From 2019-2024, the most crashes involving deer happened in Stark (3,138), Richland (2,880), Hancock (2,725) and Defiance (2,560) counties.
Below is a list of the number of deer-involved crashes in central Ohio in the same time period:
- Athens: 850
- Coshocton: 516
- Crawford: 1,258
- Delaware: 1,776
- Fairfield: 567
- Fayette: 714
- Franklin: 930
- Guernsey: 1,191
- Hardin: 931
- Hocking: 502
- Knox: 1,066
- Licking: 1,430
- Madison: 468
- Marion: 1,329
- Perry: 189
- Pickaway: 928
- Pike: 521
- Ross: 1,555
- Union: 1,320
