OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Autumn weather brings more than cooler weather and colorful foliage. AAA says it also brings more deer to Oklahoma's highways, especially at dusk and dawn.
Chuck Mai of AAA-Oklahoma says the deer mating season is beginning and the animals are searching for food to build up fat reserves for the winter.
Mai also says the deer population is high in the state, increasing the risk of collisions. He says deer can run as fast as 40 mph and may suddenly bolt onto the roadway, catching motorists off guard.
The Insurance Information Institute estimates there are more than 1.6 million collisions with deer each year across the nation. The collisions result in about 150 motorist deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and more than $3.6 billion in damage to vehicles.
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