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Oh Deer! Risk of Hitting Deer While Driving Up From Last Year
The chances of running into a deer with your car just got worse.
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Are you worried you might run into a deer while you’re driving? Well, maybe you should be, as the odds of it happening increased from a year ago.
A recent study from State Farm shows one in 192 Illinois drivers will hit a deer in 2015-2016. That’s up from one in 199 drivers in 2014-2015.
Illinois ranked 32nd out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the likelihood of crashing into a deer, up from 33rd the year before. West Virginia was the diciest place for driving when it comes to hitting deer, with one in 41 drivers averaging an insurance claim involving a deer collision. Hawaii was the safest, with an average of only one in 18,955 drivers expected to hit a deer.
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The good news — with October now more than half over — is that we’re nearly clear of the second most dangerous month for hitting deer. The bad news is November is the No. 1 most dangerous month. December comes in as the third.
Collisions with deer or other large animals can cause not just damage to your vehicle, but also significant bodily injury. In addition to vigilant driving, State Farm offers these tips to avoid hitting a deer:
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- Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn
- If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road
- Pay attention to deer crossing signs
- Always buckle up, every trip, every time
- Use your high beamsto see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic
- Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which could result in a more severe crash
- Remain focused on the road, scanning for hazards, including animals
- Avoid distractions, like devices or eating, which might cause you to miss seeing an animal
- Do not rely on products such as deer whistles, which are not proven effective
- If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear and keep focus on the road ahead
Here is State Farm’s state ranking for the likelihood of deer collisions:
1. West Virginia, 1 in 41
2. Montana, 1 in 58
3. Pennsylvania, 1 in 67
4. Iowa, 1 in 68
5. South Dakota, 1 in 70
6. Wisconsin, 1 in 77
7. Minnesota, 1 in 80
8. Michigan, 1 in 85
8. Wyoming, 1 in 85
10. Mississippi, 1 in 87
11. North Dakota, 1 in 91
12. South Carolina, 1 in 93
13. Virginia, 1 in 94
14. Arkansas, 1 in 96
15. Kentucky, 1 in 103
16. North Carolina, 1 in 115
17. Missouri, 1 in 117
18. Kansas, 1 in 125
19. Georgia, 1 in 126
19. Ohio, 1 in 126
21. Nebraska, 1 in 132
22. Alabama, 1 in 135
23. Indiana, 1 in 136
24. Maine, 1 in 138
25. Maryland, 1 in 139
26. Idaho, 1 in 147
26. Tennessee, 1 in 147
28. Delaware, 1 in 148
29. Utah, 1 in 150
30. New York, 1 in 161
31. Vermont, 1 in 175
32. Illinois, 1 in 192
33. Oklahoma, 1 in 195
34. New Hampshire, 1 in 234
35. Oregon, 1 in 239
36. New Jersey, 1 in 250
37. Colorado, 1 in 263
38. Texas, 1 in 288
39. Louisiana, 1 in 300
40. Washington, 1 in 307
41. Connecticut, 1 in 313
42. Rhode Island, 1 in 345
43. Alaska, 1 in 468
44. New Mexico, 1 in 475
45. Massachusetts, 1 in 635
46. District of Columbia, 1 in 689
47. Florida, 1 in 903
48. Nevada, 1 in 1,018
49. California, 1 in 1,064
50. Arizona, 1 in 1,175
51. Hawaii, 1 in 18,955
photo via Jeremiah John McBride/Flickr/Creative
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