Drivers Urged To Stay Vigilant As Deer Season Approaches

School is back in session for most of Oklahoma, which means high school football season is right around the corner! And that means more Oklahoma residents will be out on Oklahoma's highways late at night, and it's soon to be the prime season for deer-related accidents. And a recent collision with a deer on I-35 near Guthrie is a reminder to Oklahoma residents to know what to do if they hit a deer on the highway.

On Thursday, August 14, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted to its a official Facebook about a dangerous deer-related collision that occurred around 4 a.m. Thursday. In the post, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol stated that a driver hit a deer and their vehicle became disabled. Luckily, the driver knew what to do and got out of the vehicle and sought safety on the side of the road. A semitruck soon hit the disabled car and crumbled it like a piece of paper.

What to do if your car is disabled on the highway.

This accident served as a reminder to Oklahoma that if they're out driving and their car becomes disabled either from hitting a deer or simply breaking down, they should practice the proper safety procedures to avoid any more danger.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol shared what drivers should do if their car becomes disabled on the highway:

• Do not stand inside traffic lanes.
• Immediately turn on hazard lights.
• Move away from the roadway and the disabled vehicle to a safer location.
• Call for help, either 911 or roadside assistance.
• Wait for help in a safe location.

Fall is rut season for deers in Oklahoma, which means deer-related accidents increase.

Oklahomans should always look out for deer or any dangers on the highway, but especially for deer during the fall season. From October to December, Oklahoma sees an increase in deer-related accidents due to rut season. During this time, deer are most active and are often darting off the side of the road and running across the highway within a matter of seconds. So it's important to pay close attention to the road and the ditches to watch out for deer.

Last year, some areas in southwest Oklahoma started to see deer moving as early as September. It was a bit early for a typical rut season, but the time of year doesn't make the deer any less likely to run out on the highway!