Warmer weather means more wildlife out and about in the Tri-City area. This means there is a greater chance of colliding with animals such as deer when you’re out driving. If you travel north on I-17 to Flagstaff, you could be in danger of hitting an elk. The average weight of an adult male deer is 300 pounds, while the average weight of an adult male elk is 900 pounds. Hitting either animal can result in significant damage to your vehicle and injury or death to anyone inside it.
ADOT officials advise everyone to slow down when driving on rural roads and highways in order to increase your reaction time should you encounter wildlife in the road. Stay alert and regularly check the roadside, especially at dawn and dusk. Statewide crash data from 2022 shows there were 1,830 collisions between vehicles and animals in Arizona, which resulted in nearly 300 injuries and four fatalities.