With the daylight hours becoming shorter and the weather getting cooler, the N.C. Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to keep an eye out for deer while on the road.

Last year in North Carolina, there were nearly 18,000 animal-related crashes, most of which involved deer. That brings the total over the past three years to nearly 54,000 collisions, 14 people killed, over 3,000 injured and $136 million in property damage.

For the fourteenth year in a row, Wake County led the state in the number of animal-vehicle crashes with 730, followed by Pitt County with 550 and Guilford County which had 549 crashes. Counties in the western part of the state have fewer drivers and roads, meaning less animal crashes. Graham County had just eight, while Swain County had 10.

To keep you and your family safe this fall, remember to:

Slowdown in posted deer crossing areas and heavily wooded areas, especially during the late afternoon or early evening

Don’t swerve to avoid a collision with deer as this could cause you to lose control or veer into oncoming traffic

Deer often travel in groups, so assume if one crosses the road in front of you there may be others following

For more safety tips, visit www.NCDOT.gov