If you’ve been driving around New York lately, you’ve probably noticed the vibes are off on the highways. It is officially deer mating season, and our local white-tailed deer are making some questionable life choices. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, these animals are currently on the move, leading to a massive spike in vehicle collisions—about 60,000 to 70,000 a year, to be exact.
Why you need to watch the road
Real talk: this is highkey dangerous. Roughly 40% to 43% of these crashes go down between October and December. The NYDOT is out here trying to keep us safe, noting that deer aren't exactly road-safety experts. They literally don't check for traffic, and as the DOT joked, "apparently their friends give awful advice."
Hitting a 150- to 300-pound animal while going 60 mph is no joke—it can be fatal. In fact, these crashes end up killing about five people every single season. With roughly 900,000 deer roaming New York, they definitely have main character energy on the roads right now. If you see a buck that’s topping 350 or even 400 pounds, you definitely don't want to test your luck. Stay sharp, watch your surroundings, and keep it safe out there.
Why it matters
With nearly half of all annual deer-vehicle accidents occurring in these final three months of the year, the DOT's awareness campaign is a necessary reminder to stay focused behind the wheel during peak migration.
