AAA warns drivers to watch for wildlife

Autumn marks peak season for New York’s car-animal collisions

By AAA of Western and Central New York

New York drivers need to buckle up this fall and watch for animals on the roads. AAA analyzed New York crash data and found that October, November and December are, by far, the peak months for animal crashes – notably deer – in the Empire State. The latest data shows that there were 36,743 animal-related crashes statewide in 2024, tied for the most since at least 2018, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research (ITSMR) – that’s equivalent to one animal-related crash every 15 minutes. Of the 36,743 crashes, 1,630 resulted in injury and seven in death. 

“A collision with a deer can be far more than an inconvenience, it can be deadly and expensive,” said Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations at AAA Western and Central New York. “Drivers should stay alert, avoid distractions, and watch for deer and other wildlife, especially in the fall when collision risks rise.”

Here are the top 10 counties for animal crashes based on AAA’s analysis of 2024 data:

1. Orange (1,656 – the most since at least 2018)*
2. Monroe (1,565 – the most since at least 2018)*
3. Suffolk (1,555 – the most since at least 2018)*
4. Oneida (1,456 – the most since at least 2018)*
5. St. Lawrence (1,372)
6. Jefferson (1,320 – the most since at least 2018)*
7. Ontario (1,187)
8. Erie (1,162 – the most since at least 2018)*
9. Ulster (1,079 – the most since 2020)
10. Onondaga (997)

*Data collection changes prevent comparison to years before 2018.

Motorists should be especially vigilant after dark, as deer crashes often occur outside daylight hours. The state Department of Transportation reports most of the incidents occur two hours before sunrise and after sunset each day.

AAA offers the following tips for avoiding, or mitigating, deer crashes:

•Scan the road. Especially the shoulders of the road in front of you. Deer may dash out from the shoulder or wooded areas adjacent to the road. They often travel in herds.

•Follow the speed limit. Keeping your speed down will give you more time to respond to unexpected wildlife movements.

•Can’t avoid a collision? Apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane. Swerving sharply to avoid an animal can often cause a more-serious crash.

Animal-related collisions are one of most common contributing factors in crashes in New York, after driver inattention/distraction, passing/lane changing/improper use, following too closely, and failure to yield right-of-way. Fall is the season when drivers are encouraged to be most cautious.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 850,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.