Deer are on the move due to migration and mating season. Typically, deer are most active in the mornings and early evenings, which unfortunately just happens to coincide with the rush-hours. And, October through December are the most dangerous months for deer-related collisions.
Deer can be very dangerous to motorists. The Institute for Highway Safety estimates 1.5 million deer-related collisions occur each year with 150 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries. In 2012, there were 5,911 deer-related crashes, three of which resulted in deaths and 307 resulted in injuries.
While conventional wisdom is to slow and hold your line when suddenly confronted with a deer in your path, some drivers will swerve in an attempt to miss the animal. Even if there is no contact between your vehicle and the deer, a sudden swerve can result in a loss of control causing an accident with another vehicle, a tree or other object. Of course, holding your line is not without risk as a deer can crash through the windshield seriously injuring or killing occupants.