Oklahoma’s Most Dangerous Road Hazards You Need to Know

Generally, driving in Oklahoma is a relatively safe experience, as Oklahoma was recently ranked one of the safest states to travel through. However, it's always a good idea to be on the look out for animals, creatures and obstructions that you'll more than likely cross paths with on your trek through the state.

Deer

Deer travel through Oklahoma year-round; although "rutting season" peaks generally in mid-late November. Rutting season is associated with breeding season for deer. When breeding is on their minds, nothing stops them - not even ongoing traffic in the busiest of highways.

During the spring and crop growing season, deer are often seeking out corn and grain being grown in the state. Long story short: when food or breeding comes to mind, nothing stands in their way. Drivers should be cautious during the late evening and early daylight hours when on the road.

Bison

Although they are typically only found in protected areas in Oklahoma, they are still note-worthy for drivers to be cautious of when encountering them. They may seem sweet and majestic from afar, but if drivers test their boundaries, your car could easily end up inoperable.

Armadillo

These nocturnal critters make their rounds whenever they're on the hunt for food. Armadillos are not blind, but they do have poor eyesight. They rely on their ears and noses more than their eyes to detect food or predators. Because of their slow reaction time, this guys end up road-kill more often than not. If you're not careful, hitting their hard shell at a increased rate of speed can do some damage internally to any driver's vehicle.

Opossums

Whether you see them in the busy city streets or in the rural roads of the country, these guys are on a mission and will more than likely run straight to your spinning wheels in a moment of panic.

The Wild Construction Cone

Even the best of drivers struggle with predicting where they might find one in Oklahoma. One thing is for certain - there will always be one in any area of the state. If you aren't paying attention to the road (I'm talking to you, drivers who're definitely "looking up the address" while speeding down the highway), they could jump right in front of you and all 25 to 40 pounds could leave more than a dent on your vehicle.

The Sneaky State Trooper

Hiding in the shadows, or just over the next hill in the median awaits the State Trooper. In Oklahoma, trooper vehicles are blacked out with a small white shape of Oklahoma on the side doors. If there's anything that can literally take a driver off the road, it's definitely a State Trooper. Drivers should pay attention to their speed, stay off their phones and, if you're next to or drive past them, don't make eye contact.

Snakes

Roads in Oklahoma soak up the sun during the day and as the temperatures increase, you'll see less and less of Oklahoma's snakes out in the open. However, when the sun goes down, the drop in temps draws snakes out to the road - perfect for target practice. All jokes aside, these creatures can easily wrap around a rotor or eject themselves straight into the engine. Take cautious when crossing them on the road.

The Worst Hazard of All: Other Drivers

Although we can prepare for animals and objects appearing in the road, drivers cannot control other drivers. It's important for those on the road in Oklahoma to be attentive to the vehicles surrounding them.