It’s fall, and that means more deer on the roads. Here’s how to avoid a wreck.

Fall means the return of cool weather, changing leaves and pumpkin-spiced everything. It’s also the time of year drivers are most likely to hit a deer.

Hunting by humans and mating by the deer mean more of them are on the move, at a time of year when shorter days mean more people are driving after dark or before sunrise. Nearly half of deer-vehicle collisions in North Carolina take place in October, November and December, with about 22 percent happening in November alone.

There were 53,775 animal-car collisions statewide from 2014 to 2016, the vast majority involving deer, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. Fourteen people were killed as a result, and 3,356 were injured. The damage to vehicles topped $135 million.

Wake County, with ample populations of drivers and deer, consistently leads the state in animal-car collisions, with 730 last year; in distant second place was Pitt County, followed by Guilford, Duplin and Mecklenburg. The fewest crashes took place in the mountain counties of Graham, Swain and Jackson, not for lack of deer but because of the scarcity of roads and drivers.

Most deer-vehicle crashes occur in the evenings, between 5 and 10 p.m., or just before sunrise. The end of daylight saving time, this year on Nov. 5, means dusk arrives even earlier in November and December, and more people are heading home from work in the dark.

The fewest animal-car collisions take place in early to mid-afternoon.

NCDOT offers the following tips to avoid hitting a deer and to stay safe if you do:

▪ Slow down at posted deer-crossings and in heavily wooded areas, especially during the late afternoon and evening.

▪ Always wear your seat belt. Most people injured in deer-vehicle collisions were not wearing one.

▪ Be aware that most deer-vehicle crashes occur in areas where deer are more likely to travel, such as near bridges or overpasses, railroad tracks, streams and ditches.

▪ Drive with high beams on when possible and watch for eyes reflecting in the headlights.

▪ Remember that deer often travel in groups, so if you see one cross in front of you, look out for others.

▪ If you encounter deer on the road, slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten them away.

▪ Leave more space between your vehicle and the one in front of you, especially at night. If the car ahead hits a deer, you could become involved in the crash.

▪ Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer. You could lose control of your vehicle, causing a more serious crash.

▪ Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles or reflectors to deter deer; these devices have not proven to reduce deer-vehicle crashes.

▪ If you hit a deer, do not touch the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. Better to get your car off the road if possible and call 911.

This story was originally published October 23, 2017 at 10:57 AM with the headline "It’s fall, and that means more deer on the roads. Here’s how to avoid a wreck.."