Oh Deer! Risk of Hitting Deer While Driving Up From Last Year

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.

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:

• 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