10/24/2026
Hit the deer, not the ditch.
October marks the start of peak animal-strike season in Texas and Louisiana. In 2024, Texas recorded 9,497 crashes where an animal on the road was a factor, and in nearly a third of them, the driver never hit the animal. They swerved and hit something else.
This week, our drivers are focused on four things:
🦌 Know when risk is highest: October through December, at dawn and dusk.
👀 Scan wide: shoulders, ditches, and fence lines. Where there’s one deer, expect more.
🛑 If impact is unavoidable: brake firmly and steer straight. Don’t swerve, whether you’re in a pickup or a loaded tractor-trailer.
⚠️ After a strike: get off the road, get visible, stay clear of the animal, and inspect before moving.
The same goes for your drive home. Stay alert out there.