North Carolina Motorists Warned to Watch for Deer

North Carolina motorists who want to know the regions of the state where they have to be especially vigilant about deer now have an online tool to help.

The state Department of Transportation has maps available by county on its website, www.ncdot.org , showing areas with the most frequent animal-related crashes.

The agency says deer are the biggest single danger. Ninety percent of the nearly 20,000 animal-related wrecks every year involve deer.

Seventeen people have been killed in those wrecks since 2008, with more than 3,400 injured.

DOT mobility and safety director Kevin Lacy says deer are especially likely to be on the move at this time of year because of mating and hunting season. Most deer-related crashes occur between October and December.