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OH, DEER: Can you spot how many deer are in the above photo? It’s not unusual for deer to leap in front of passing vehicles on roads and highways during this time of year so be alert.

The fall season brings the changing color of leaves, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and – unfortunately – crashes between deer and motor vehicles.  October and November are the busiest months for deer crashes during the year, according to AMATS Transportation Engineer Dave Pulay.

As an offshoot of the agency’s recently completed 2011-2013 Traffic Crash Report, AMATS analyzed more than 2,500 deer-related crashes in the Greater Akron area during the same three-year period.  Pulay says that the analysis found that the fall months can be considered the start of the area’s deer-crash season with a tapering off during the mid-to-late winter months.

“There were 362 deer-related crashes for the month of October and a huge spike to 587 crashes in November during the period.  These numbers are most likely due to the deer mating season,” Pulay continues, “So, along with having greater periods of darkness to drive in, motorists should be more alert for deer this time of year too.”

The agency’s analysis also looked at hourly crashes and found – probably to the surprise of no one who lives near deer – that they are most active during dawn and dusk.

“The hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. are when deer crashes are most likely to occur during the day.  There were 230 deer crashes in the morning hour and 244 in the evening hour during the period,” Pulay says.

Monthly and hourly totals are available for viewing by clicking here.  Totals by community are available by clicking here.  For more information, please click on Reports.