Deer Collisions Surge in Fall: Southold Leads New York State in Crashes, AAA Warns

With deer mating season underway, AAA warns Hamptons and North Fork drivers to stay alert as October and November bring increased collision risks, particularly at dawn and dusk.

Drivers across the Hamptons and North Fork know that deer are a familiar sight along local roads, but fall brings an especially dangerous period as mating season sends more animals into traffic.

AAA Northeast is warning motorists to be particularly cautious in October and November, when deer become more active and unpredictable, increasing the risk of collisions.

The East End is already among New York state’s most dangerous areas for deer-related crashes.

According to AAA, Southold recorded 790 deer crashes from 2021 through 2024, the highest number of any municipality in New York state during that period. Brookhaven ranked sixth with 599 crashes, while Southampton ranked 10th with 526.

The figures underscore a persistent problem for drivers across the East End, where deer regularly cross residential streets, wooded roads and major thoroughfares.

November Is Peak Season for Deer Crashes

Deer mating season, commonly known as the rut, typically peaks in the fall, when bucks travel more frequently in search of mates. The increased movement makes deer less predictable, particularly near roads.

“If you see one, there is probably going to be more. They can just bound out into the road unexpectedly,” AAA spokesperson Robert Sinclair Jr. said.

November is the peak month for deer collisions in both New York and New Jersey, according to AAA Northeast.

Statewide, New York recorded 32,537 deer crashes in 2024, an increase of more than 4% from the previous year, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.

Nearly half of New York’s deer crashes occur during morning and afternoon commuting hours, between 6 and 10 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m., when reduced visibility and increased deer activity can create hazardous driving conditions.

AAA Warns Drivers: Don’t Swerve

AAA Northeast advises drivers to reduce speed in areas where deer are common, watch road shoulders and remain alert for additional animals when one crosses the road.

Swerving to avoid a deer can be more dangerous than striking the animal. According to AAA Northeast, crashes in which drivers swerved and struck another vehicle or a fixed object were significantly more likely to result in injuries than collisions involving a direct impact with a deer.

Drivers should also avoid sudden, extreme braking when possible, particularly if a collision is unavoidable.

Sinclair warned that braking hard can cause the front of a vehicle to dip, potentially increasing the danger of a deer coming over the hood and through the windshield.

AAA recommends braking firmly while maintaining control of the vehicle and staying in the travel lane rather than making a sudden evasive maneuver.

For East End motorists, particularly those traveling along wooded stretches of road at dawn or after sunset, the message is simple: Slow down, stay alert and remember that where there’s one deer, there may be others.

For additional driving safety information, visit AAA Northeast.