| The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | following list reviews the top ten ways to keep |
| estimates there are approximately 1.5 million auto | | | | yourself safe and minimize your chances of a car |
| deer collisions per year, resulting in damage losses of | | | | deer collision when driving: |
| around $1.5 billion USD, which works out to an | | | | 1. When at all possible, avoid driving between dusk |
| average cost of $1,000 per accident. State Farm | | | | and dawn. |
| Insurance Agency also supports these statistics, and | | | | 2. Try to avoid rural roads and poorly lit areas. |
| goes on to report that, in the year 2004, there were | | | | 3. Be particularly vigilant when driving through areas |
| 150 human deaths in the United States that were | | | | with high foliage or low hanging branches on the |
| directly linked to car deer accidents. | | | | roadside. If there are two people in the car, ask your |
| The bear is often considered to be one of the most | | | | passenger for help watching the sides of the road. |
| dangerous animals in North America. As a combined | | | | 4. Reduce your speed, and don't overdrive your |
| group, polar bears, black bears, and grizzly bears are | | | | lights. The most common remark people make after |
| responsible for 5 to 10 human fatalities per year in | | | | they've been in a car deer collision is that the animal |
| North America. Comparing this statistic with the 150 | | | | "came out of nowhere." |
| human deaths caused in 2004 by auto deer collisions, | | | | 5. If you see one deer on the side of the road and |
| one might come to the conclusion that the most | | | | you're fortunate enough not to hit it, be sure to slow |
| dangerous animal in North America is, in fact, the | | | | down, because where there is one deer, there will |
| White Tail Deer. | | | | often be others. |
| An insurance study conducted by State Farm | | | | 6. Always wear your seatbelt. |
| Insurance in 2004 and 2005 indicates the ten states | | | | 7. Use high beam headlights as much as possible to |
| with the most deer hits per year are as follows: | | | | light the sides of the roadway. |
| 1. Pennsylvania | | | | 8. Do not ride motorcycles in areas with high deer |
| 2. Michigan | | | | populations. Riding a motorcycles leaves you much |
| 3. Illinois | | | | more vulnerable to serious injury in an accident than |
| 4. Ohio | | | | does driving a car. |
| 5. Georgia | | | | 9. Finally, if a collision with a deer is eminent, brake |
| 6. Minnesota | | | | and hold the wheel straight. Too often, drivers |
| 7. Virginia | | | | swerve trying to avoid the animal, and drive off the |
| 8. Indiana | | | | road or into the path of another car. These accidents |
| 9. Texas | | | | can often be more serious than hitting the deer |
| 10. Wisconsin | | | | would have been. |
| Statistically, most car deer accidents occur between | | | | 10. If you do hit a deer, stay in your car until help |
| the months of October and December, which also | | | | arrives. If the deer is still alive, it may be stunned and |
| coincides with the deer's mating season. It has also | | | | could become very aggressive if aroused. |
| been noted that more accidents occur during the | | | | If you drive a great deal in the United States, |
| night, or anytime between dusk and dawn. This is | | | | especially in areas with high deer population, you are |
| attributed to the fact that deer are a very nocturnal | | | | at risk of hitting a deer. However, with these |
| animal and spend most of their time foraging at night. | | | | guidelines in mind and a good dose of common sense, |
| With all this information, it's clear that drivers must | | | | you can reduce that risk and keep yourself and your |
| take every possible precaution when driving. The | | | | passengers safe. |