Between 5,000 and 10,000 deer crashes happen in Tennessee each year, with late October and November serving as the peak season.
That’s because deer are active this time of year. Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy said the flow of traffic and high speed on the highway can contribute to the volume of deer related crashes.
“We’ve got an abundance of deer in Pickett County,” Dowdy said. “So usually people that see deer on the rural roads have time to stop, and when they dart out and you’re going 55 and you’re on 111, it’s just hard to get stopped.”
Dowdy said deer-related crashes on the highway typically total the vehicle. Dowdy said the faster speed combined with the sudden deer running into the road can be a disastrous.
“Sort of like the hood scoops them up into the windshields a lot of times, Dowdy said. “I’ve seen them go through the windshield and bounce off the seats.”
Dowry said deer can cause drivers to slam on their breaks and crash into other vehicles. Dowry said other drivers will attempt to avoid the obstacle and swerve off the road, at risk of hitting a tree.
Experts report as many as half of Tennessee’s deer accidents happen during the October-December period, in part because of deer mating season. It also correlates with the time change and some of the heaviest traffic of the year due to the holidays.
Dowdy said throughout the year deer are a continuous issue. The state reports the Upper Cumberland sees a heavy number of accidents.
