Hitting deer has led to hundreds of injuries in NC. These are ways to avoid crashes
About 90% of all reported animal-related vehicle crashes in North Carolina involve deer, according to data from the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Though NCDOT says deer are more likely to be on roadways during fall and winter because of hunting and mating seasons, that didn’t stop a deer from trotting through uptown Charlotte on Friday.
The animal was dashing across Interstate 277 when it was hit by a vehicle near the South Tryon Street overpass. An Observer photographer captured the scene that led to a traffic backup where the accident happened. It wasn’t immediately known whether anyone in the vehicle was hurt.
Most vehicle collisions involving deer occur in areas where deer travel, including near bridges, overpasses, railroad tracks, streams and ditches, NCDOT says.
How many deer crashes have there been in Mecklenburg County?
From 2018-2020, Mecklenburg County ranked eighth out of 100 counties in North Carolina for number of animal-related crashes, with 1,361 accidents reported, NCDOT data show. Wake County ranked first, with 2,570 crashes reported during the same time period.
The top 10 counties in the state had a combined 15,737 animal crashes from 2018-2020, which caused roughly $44 million in damage, 719 injuries and three deaths, NCDOT says.
How can you avoid deer crashes?
NCDOT offers these tips for drivers regarding animal crashes:
Maintain a safe amount of distance between other vehicles on the road. If a vehicle in front of you hits a deer, you could also become involved in the crash.
Slow down in areas where there are deer crossing signs and in wooded areas.
Drive with your high beams on when possible and watch for deer eyes reflecting in your headlights.
If you see a deer in the road, watch out for others, since they often travel in herds.
Slow down and blow your horn if you spot a deer along the road.
Don’t swerve to avoid a collision with a deer. It could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
If you hit a deer, don’t touch it. Get your vehicle off the road and call 911.
Observer reporter Joe Marusak contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 12:29 PM.
