Current news and information regarding government affairs, gas and travel information.
Search below using state and category
Morgan Dean
Senior Specialist, Public and Government Affairs, VA
C: (804) 543-7190
mdean@aaamidatlantic.com
Richmond, Virginia (Tuesday, October 6, 2020) Fall is officially here and AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning drivers to be more cautious on the roads. Deer mating season is beginning and October, November and December are the most dangerous months in Virginia for motor vehicle collisions with animals. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in a vehicle, if not destroy it completely, possibly resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
According to 2019 crash data provided by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, 6,523 crashes involved deer collisions, with the majority (53%) of incidents (3,477) happening in the last three months of the year. Virginia saw an 11% increase in deer crashes and a 16% increase in injuries compared to 2018.
"Animal-vehicle collisions start to increase in October and peak in mid-November," said Morgan Dean, Senior Public Affairs Specialist for AAA. "For that reason, drivers need to be even more cautious and alert behind the wheel, especially at dawn and dusk, which can be the times for high levels of deer activity."
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Deer-Related Crash Data 2019
Localities with the most Deer-Related Crashes in 2019(DMV Data)
“Deer and other animals can be unpredictable and might dash out in front of your vehicle. But there are actions you can take to help prevent a crash or reduce the damage from an animal collision,” noted Dean. “First and foremost, drivers and passengers should always wear a seat belt and take steps to avoid distractions behind the wheel.”
A Costly Crash/Are You Covered?
While any animal on the road can be dangerous, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, there are more than 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 human deaths and tens of thousands of injuries. Crashes involving deer can pose great risk to drivers, but even a crash in which no one is injured can be costly. AAA Insurance reports the average deer-related claim in Virginia in 2018 was $3,956.
In the event of a collision with an animal, AAA recommends:
To report a dead deer for removal from Virginia state maintained roads, drivers can call the Virginia Department of Transportation customer service center at 1-800-367-7623 or submit a request online at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/.
AAA offers safety tips to help prevent a crash or to reduce damage from an animal collision:
@AAAVANews #AAAVANews Like us on Facebook
VA Mailing Address:
9210 Arboretum Pkwy, Ste 290
Richmond, VA 23236
AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 60 million members nationwide and more than one million members in Virginia. AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
For more information, visit www.AAA.com.
Martha Meade
Public Relations Manager, VA
O: (804) 323-6510 (ext. 4466510)
C: (804) 543-7190
mmeade@aaamidatlantic.com
Who's in the Driver's Seat? The Transformation of Transportation
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, AAA and TEDx Wilmington held the first TEDx Salon dedicated to ideas worth spreading in transportation.
This event had:
View a slideshow from the event
This TEDx WilmingtonSalon was organized in partnership with AAA
Copyright ©
AAA Club Alliance Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Accessibility Statement
Go to Other AAA Clubs
This site serves residents of the AAA Club Alliance service area which includes Greater Hartford, CT Area, Cincinnati Tri-State Area, Miami County, OH, Greater Dayton, OH Area, Northwest Ohio, AAA Blue Grass & Bluefield Regions, Southern West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, and parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Write Us: AAA Club Alliance, One River Place, Wilmington, DE 19801