It is not uncommon to see deer, skunks and many other versions of wildlife near the side of the roads. The issue is when those animals are in front of the car. Animals are the fifth most common factor to crashes in New York according to AAA.

AAA says there were more than 36,000 animal-related crashes last year. Luckily only two of those were fatal, but AAA says October, November, and December are peak months for animal crashes in the state. 

What can drivers do to avoid such crashes?

Animal-related car crashes are tough to avoid, but AAA says there are some things you can keep in mind while behind the wheel. The biggest thing to remember is to always scan the road ahead. Dan Fisher, emergency road service dispatch manager of AAA Western and Central New York, suggests that people look about 30 seconds down the road and pay attention to the driver ahead of you. If you do encounter a deer or a larger animal, he says, the best thing to do is actually drive straight at it and use firm consistent pressure on the brake. Swerving could lead you into oncoming traffic or a ditch. 

It’s also important to remember that animals are common around dawn or dusk so pay extra attention driving at those times. 

Daylight saving plays a part here too as it changes the seasonality.

"So people might not be used to driving in the dark or in as light as it is," Fisher said. "So really pay attention to those time changes. Be very mindful of the fact that these things, you know, they don't care if it's 8 or 9 o'clock. You know, they think it's dusk, right. So as the sun starts setting a little bit earlier, please definitely pay attention here."

One last thing to keep in mind. Experts say if you see one deer on the road, there’s a good chance they’ll be others as they tend to travel in herds. So if you see one, slow down.