New Jersey drivers warned as deer mating season sends wildlife darting across busy roads

As deer enter their fall mating season, activity increases, prompting New Jersey officials to warn drivers about a heightened risk of collisions on the road.

As daylight decreases, rising hormone levels in bucks and does drive a surge in breeding activity during the peak of the season.

In light of this, officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are urging drivers to use extra caution when traveling due to the increased activity near roadways.

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"Collisions with deer pose a very serious safety threat and can cause significant damage to vehicles and possible loss of life," Dave Golden, Assistant Commissioner for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, said.

Other locations such as neighboring New York have experienced around 65,000 deer-vehicle collisions each year, with most of them occurring from October to December, according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

In fact, there are around 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. each year, resulting in about 150 deaths and over $1 billion in vehicle damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The average cost of a vehicle collision with a deer adds up to nearly $4,000.

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Most of the collisions happen around dusk or dawn on high-speed rural roads, so it is best to drive slowly and be aware of your surroundings along the side of a roadway.

How to avoid deer collisions

Try using these expert tips from the New York Department of Transportation to help avoid a collision with deer during this mating season.

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• Use caution when driving at dawn or dusk and scan roads and roadsides ahead.
• Reduce your speed at night and use high beams when possible.
• Be sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts and children are properly restrained in child safety seats.
• Slow down when approaching deer or moose standing near the roadside, as they may suddenly bolt into the road.
• Deer and moose often travel in pairs or groups, so if deer or moose are spotted crossing the road, slow down and be alert that others may follow.
• Briefly use flashers or a headlight signal to warn approaching drivers when deer or moose are spotted in or near the highway.
• Be especially alert and use caution when traveling through frequent deer or moose crossing areas, which are usually marked with "leaping stag" or moose signs.
• Do not rely on devices, such as deer whistles, extra lights, or reflectors, to deter deer. Research has shown that your best defense is your own responsible behavior.
• Motorcyclists should be especially alert for deer as motorcycle-deer collisions have a higher fatality rate.
• If a deer does run in front of your vehicle, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a vehicle-vehicle collision or cause the vehicle to strike a pedestrian or potentially deadly fixed object, such as a tree or utility pole.