Although the number of deer-vehicle collisions went down during the past year, there has been an increase in the number of carcasses found, said one biologist.
Overall, the number of Ohio deer-vehicle collisions have dropped, according to a statement jointly released by the Ohio Insurance Institute, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
I suspect it has everything to do with reporting rates. I don't think that deer are leaving the roadways
or that there is increased driver awareness Mike Tonkovich, deer biologist for the state of Ohio, said.
In 2006 Athens County had 188 crashes, and in 2007 there were 181 deer-vehicle collisions, Tonkovich said. Yet the number of carcasses removed from roadways increased by 5 percent during this time.
With budgets and staff shortages occurring because of the state of the economy right now some of the key players who are supposed to be doing these reports are not doing them
Tonkovich said, adding that most insurance companies no longer require such accidents to be reported unless foul play was involved.
Peak hours of deer-vehicle collisions occur between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, with 54 percent of crashes occurring between these times.
They (deer) prefer to move under low or night light. Consequently
crashes go up at these times
Tonkovich said.
There are ways for drivers to avoid hitting deer.
The most common-sense tip I can give is that when you are driving in an area that has deer crossing signs
plan to look ahead
even when there is a lot of traffic
said Mitch Wilson, vice president of communications for the Ohio Insurance Institute.
He also stressed the importance of using your high beams after dark if they will not disturb other drivers. That way, the deer's eyes will be illuminated further down the road, which will give you time to slow down.
If you're not sure
don't swerve. If it looks like you are going to lose control of your car
it is better to just hit the deer and hope for the best
