Deer Collisions Surge After Time Change
Experts caution that with the switch to standard time and the onset of seasonal weather, driving conditions become more hazardous. The earlier darkness increases the risk of collisions with wildlife, particularly deer.
“Now is a really important time for people to just be aware that there are some increased public safety risks when you’re on the roads,” said Danny Kats, executive director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.
According to Environment Colorado, deer collisions rise by 16% during the week following the time change. Rachel Jaeger, an associate with the organization, explained that the shift pushes rush hour into dusk and early evening when wildlife is most active.
“Their internal clocks don’t change just because we change our external clocks,” Jaeger said. “They'll be out and active whenever they typically prefer to — those early evening hours.”
Jaeger also noted that drivers are 14 times more likely to hit a deer in the two hours after sunset compared to the two hours before. In Colorado, most wildlife-vehicle accidents involve deer.
“A properly placed wildlife crossing can reduce these collisions by as much as 90 percent,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “We have cameras in place where we can actually see the density of animals utilizing these structures.”
Summary
Experts report a 16% spike in deer collisions after daylight saving ends, mainly due to darker commutes and heightened evening wildlife activity.