FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – With deer activity and collisions on the rise during the fall, state highway safety officials are reminding drivers that the best defense against a deer-related crash is to stay alert, slow down and buckle up.
New crash data shows Kentucky experienced a seven-year high of 3,411 deer collisions in 2025, underscoring the importance of safe driving habits as peak deer movement season gets underway along roads statewide.
“With deer active this time of year, especially at dawn and dusk, motorists should stay focused, slow down in areas where deer are present and always wear a seat belt,” said State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “A few extra moments of caution can help prevent a serious crash.”
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, deer movement typically increases during the fall as mating season begins and food sources shift. Deer often travel farther distances during October, November and December, making road encounters more common.
While crash numbers increased last year, data showed a positive downward trend in deer crash-related fatalities with none reported in 2025, compared with six in 2024. Thirty people were reported to have been seriously injured in these crashes. Nearly half of all deer collisions occurred during the final three months of the year. November recorded the highest number of crashes with 823 reported collisions, followed by 394 in October and 330 in December.
Kentucky was one of 17 states to receive a federal grant in 2024 to make roadways safer for people and wildlife. The $1.2 million award funded a wildlife-vehicle collision reduction plan and a pilot study in central Kentucky.
Analysts examined vehicle collisions along the U.S. 60/Interstate 64 corridor in Jefferson, Shelby and Franklin counties where white-tailed deer are involved in a high number of collisions and collected data to understand deer habitat and behavior patterns using drones, GPS collars, trail cameras and field surveys.
KYTC is continuing its assessment to identify infrastructure solutions to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
