The Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to be alert for deer on the move as shorter days and earlier evenings arrive.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri consistently ranks between 10th and 15th in the nation for deer-vehicle collisions each year. In 2024, nearly 3,000 crashes involving deer were reported, resulting in four deaths and 420 injuries.
Officials say deer are most active at dawn and dusk and can be unpredictable when crossing roadways.
MoDOT offers several safety tips for avoiding collisions, including always wearing a seatbelt, controlling speed, avoiding swerving to miss a deer, and not tailgating in case another driver stops suddenly.
