You’re more likely to hit a deer when daylight saving ends. How to avoid a crash
After the clocks change when daylight saving time ends, commuters may see more deer in their headlights.
According to a 2022 study conducted by Current Biology, scientists found that the November time change corresponds with a 16 percent increase in drivers crashing into deer.
Setting the clocks back means the sun sets earlier, meaning more drivers are commuting in the dark. And morning and evening commute times happen to correlate with the time of day that deer are most active– dawn and dusk.
The study also notes how the time change happens in an active season for the animal. Deer mating season is from October to November, which makes deer behavior more erratic. Bucks will often cross the road without looking since they are focused on pursuing a mate.
Texans will set their clocks back an hour on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 a.m. Here’s how you can decrease your chances of running into a deer while driving in the dark.
What to do if a deer runs in front of your car
Racing down an 80 mph Texas highway means that you have to react quickly.
The Texas A&M Natural Resource Institute suggests avoiding the use of high beams unless absolutely necessary. Oftentimes, deer are attracted to these bright lights.
A yellow road sign warning of deer means you’re in a highly populated area. It is important to know that deer travel in herds. So if you see one hop out onto the highway, there is a good chance a few more are prancing behind.
Thompson Injury Law and Direct Auto Insurance both suggest hitting the animal instead of swerving to avoid it, because swerving could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
“You don’t want to dodge the deer just to crash into another car or a tree,” Direct Auto Insurance said.
Other tips that may help when approaching a roadside deer:
- Slow down and apply breaks in a controlled manner. Stay in your lane.
- Honk to try and scare the deer away. If the deer stops, continue to lay on the horn.
- Avoid distracted driving, especially in deer-ridden areas. If driving on a multi-lane highway, keep toward the center lane. If a deer approaches from the side, you have more time to react.
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What to do if you hit a deer in Texas
If you’ve hit a deer, pull off to a safe location on the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.
Texas Parks and Wildlife suggests calling your local game warden dispatcher if you think the deer is only injured. Here’s a list of offices and phone numbers for Texas game wardens.
Even if the animal appears to be dead, you should not approach it or try to move it. You do not legally have to report the collision if your car is unscathed. But you should call law enforcement to report the carcass in the road, which can be a hazard to other drivers.
It is illegal to take deer with you in Texas, regulators say.
Other tips for after hitting a deer:
- Document the accident. Take photos of your car, the animal and surroundings. If there are witnesses, grab their contact information for insurance purposes.
- Stay away from injured animals. Deer that are wounded could be scared and fight back with their antlers or limbs. Let the police handle the animal.
- Call your insurance to file a claim.
Every crash is situational, and every insurance plan is different, but insurance generally covers hitting a deer (you just may need to pay a deductible). This does not fall under collision coverage, but rather one’s comprehensive insurance coverage.
Where are deer most active?
There are an estimated four million white-tailed deer living in Texas. They are found all over the state with the most concentrated population in the Hill Country region.
Deer do not migrate. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, they stay in an area year-round that is about the size of seven blocks.
They are still seen in urban areas, especially where residents will feed them. However, they eat weedy plants, so they are often found in wooded and bushy areas.