Surge in Animal-Related Accidents in New York State: Fall Season Brings Added Danger

Animal-related accidents are increasing throughout New York state and pose an additional danger during the fall, AAA reported Friday.

According to the report, in 2022 there were 36,743 accidents statewide in which “animal action” was listed as a contributing factor — an increase of more than 2,500 from the previous year and the most since at least 2018, according to a analysis of AAA Northeast data from the Institute for Highway Safety Management and Research.

There were 1,675 animal accidents in which vehicle passengers suffered injuries and two that resulted in death. According to DMV data, the vast majority of animals hit are deer.

Orange County had the most animal accidents of any county in the state with 1,633. Elsewhere in our region, Suffolk County recorded 1,216 animal-related accidents, Ulster had 950, Dutchess had 853, Rockland had 644, Sullivan had 535, Westchester had 506, Putnam had 199 and Nassau had 127. In 2022 there were 71 animal-related accidents in New York City.

The five cities with the most animal accidents in 2022 were all on Long Island or the Hudson Valley: Brookhaven in Suffolk County (357), Wallkill in Orange County (227), Clarkstown in Rockland County ( 195), Southold in Suffolk County (167). , Southampton in the county of Suffolk (164).

Hunters know that the deer mating season runs from mid-October to early December. During the rut, bucks become more active and likely to move to open areas, such as roads. As expected, October-December are the three months with the most deer accidents.

What are the most dangerous hours due to animals on the roads

The most dangerous hours are near sunset: from 6 to 8 pm before daylight hours end and from 5 to 7 pm after the clocks go “back.”

“Drivers should never swerve to avoid any animal, especially on rural roads,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr. of AAA Northeast. “Going to the right could send the vehicle into a ditch, tree or pole. Turning left could cause a fatal head-on crash. Although not desirable, hitting a deer is better than hitting a tree,” Sinclair added. .

How to avoid accidents with deer

AAA offers the following tips to avoid or mitigate deer accidents:

Scan road shoulders; Deer may run out of wooded areas adjacent to the road. Follow the speed limit to give yourself more time to respond to unexpected wildlife movements. Use caution when cornering and climbing hills where visibility is limited. Use high beams on dark roads if there is no oncoming traffic. If a crash occurs, move the vehicle to a safe location and report the incident to the police. Contact your insurance company to report any damage to your car, which generally falls under comprehensive coverage. Take photos of the damage if you can do so safely.

2023-10-13 22:26:44
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