Drivers are warned to exercise caution on the roads with increased deer activity. Deer activity increases between October and December with mating and hunting seasons, increasing the likelihood of animal related automotive collisions. A press release from the state Department of Transportation says there were 17,901 animal related crashes in 2016… slightly below 2015’s total by 136. Over the past three years there have been close to 54,000 collisions, with 14 people dying during those collisions and 3356 injuries, 51 being serious. Those collisions caused nearly $136 million in property damage. Most crashes occurred between 5 pm and midnight … times when deer movement increases and motorist visibility decreases with an earlier sunset.