The white-tail deer is the deadliest animal in North America. While this will come as a surprise to a majority of people, every year an estimated 1.25 million deer-vehicle crashes result in about 200 human fatalities, more than 10,000 injuries, and insurance payouts approaching $4 billion.
According to the DMV, A collision with some form of wildlife occurs, on average, every 39 minutes and 1 out of every 17 car collisions involves wandering wildlife. These collisions can be costly, as the average repair cost of a car-deer collision is $2,800.
Being prepared can help prevent you from adding to these statistics. Fortunately for motorists, there are many successful ways to reduce the number of collisions involving deer, this includes increasing individual awareness and safety.
The Center is where you want to be. On a two-lane road, the center lane is your safest bet for avoiding a deer collision. If you’re driving on a back road, this gives deer plenty of room to maneuver; and in case your vehicle does disorientate them, it gives you more reaction time.
Buckle up. It you happen to make a collision, then you might as well ensure your safety. This is especially true if you swerve and lose control
Look out for the rest of the pack. Deer often travel in groups. If one deer crosses the road, slow down and watch for more to follow. Females travel together in winter, and fawns follow their mothers in spring and summer.
Timing is everything. Unfortunately for drivers, deer are most active at two periods of day: dusk and dawn, the times when your vision of the road is the worst. Slow down to a reasonable speed and stay active.
Know your surroundings. Look for the yellow diamond deer crossing signs. These are placed in areas that are a known heavy traffic area for deer.
Honk! If all else fails, laying on your horn could scare deer out of the road.
Stay calm, don’t swerve. If you see a deer, brake firmly and calmly, and stay in your lane. Swerving could make you lose control of your vehicle and turn a bad situation much worse. Not to mention, deer are unpredictable and will “bolt” easily, and you could swerve directly into their new path.
Avoid distractions. This includes using a cell phone or eating. This is important at any time but especially necessary since you need to be able to be alert when staring down a deer in the road.
What are the most likely states where a driver is likely to collide with a deer? West Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Wyoming and Mississippi, according to State Farm.
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