Skip to main content

Deer pose risk to Ohio drivers

The authorities in the US state of Ohio have highlighted the increased risk of crashes involving deer. This is due to a combination of factors including fewer daylight hours and the increased movement of deer due to mating season, along with the hunting season. The road identified as having the greatest risk in the state is State Route 64 in Lucas County between Reed Road and US Route 20 Airport Highway. This road suffered 19 crashes in 2014.
October 5, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The authorities in the US state of Ohio have highlighted the increased risk of crashes involving deer. This is due to a combination of factors including fewer daylight hours and the increased movement of deer due to mating season, along with the hunting season. The road identified as having the greatest risk in the state is State Route 64 in Lucas County between Reed Road and US Route 20 Airport Highway. This road suffered 19 crashes in 2014.

Ohio’s Department of Transport, ODOT, has advised drivers to watch for deer crossing signs and drive with extreme caution, especially in posted areas. It also says that when a driver sees a deer near a road, others will be present nearby and to keep a close lookout for deer near roadways, especially at dawn and after sunset. About 20% of crashes involving deer occur in early morning, while over half occur between 5 pm and midnight. After dark, drivers should use high-beam when there is no oncoming traffic. These will illuminate the deer eyes allowing more time to react. Drivers should always wear safety belts and drive at safe, sensible speeds for road conditions.

If a vehicle strikes a deer, motorists should report the crash by calling local law enforcement, the sheriff’s department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources – even if there was no damage to the motorist’s vehicle. Motorists can claim the carcass through those agencies.

Related Content

  • US road safety is a cause for concern
    September 6, 2021
    There is concern over a worrying trend in US road safety, while there have been steady gains in road safety in Europe
  • Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway ready for construction
    April 13, 2015
    Construction is about to start on the first public-private partnership highway project in the US state of Ohio. The Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway, near the city of Portsmouth, will cost nearly US$228 million and is scheduled for completion in 2019, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Portsmouth Gateway Group will build the 25.8km, four-lane limited access highway from U.S. Route 23 north of Lucasville to U.S. Route 52 near Sciotoville. An ODOT statement said tha
  • Defective eyesight, a road safety concern?
    February 16, 2012
    Failing eyesight presents safety problems for Europe's older drivers. A new report highlights substantial variation in the assessment of drivers' vision across Europe, and recommends that Member States make moves to better assess drivers' vision. Checking the vision of drivers plays a valuable role in the EU's target of halving road deaths across the EU by 2020. The aim is to achieve this road safety improvement by legislative means that change driver behaviour, raise the technical standards of vehicles and
  • US road safety concern
    June 18, 2021
    There is concern over a worrying trend in US road safety