Yes, Deer!
Yes, Deer!
So how many times have you said those words…or have had them whispered to you, in a soft, meager, and meek tone of voice? Well guess what?! It’s that time of year that you will be hearing it quite often…or maybe even saying it yourself! Rutting season, as it is known, is the mating season of ruminant animals such as deer, sheep, elk, moose, caribou, ibex, goats, pronghorn and Asian and African antelope. What causes the rut is the shortening of the length of daylight hours each day. Each species has their own specific length of time for the rut, depending on the length of their gestation period, and usually occurs so that the young are born in the spring, after new green growth has appeared which provides food for the females, allowing them to provide milk for the young, and when the temperatures are warm enough that the young will not die of hypothermia.
“So why is Loguercio writing about this?” you ask? Well, as so many thoughts that I have pertained to this thing of ours; rutting season is a cause for more motor vehicle accidents that you would imagine.
However, according to a new State Farm survey per Property Casualty 360, depending upon where you live your chances of colliding with a deer this year have decreased by 4.3%.
Using its own claims data and state licensed-driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration State Farm says the chances of any single American motorist colliding with a deer over the next 12 months is 1 in 174, down from 1 in 167 the year before. Arlene Lester, a spokesperson for State Farm, says the reason for the decline is simple: there are more cars on the road now compared to last year, and as the number of registrations goes up, the likelihood of any one driver hitting a deer goes down. “The deer aren’t doing anything differently,” she jokes. So basically, using the law of numbers, it is still just as dangerous driving in areas where deer are likely to roam, so please do not let the slight decrease in your chances to hit a deer skew your thoughts on how dangerous it still is to drive in those heavily deer populated areas.
However, there are some areas in the country that are more prone to deer vs. motor vehicle accidents. The following are the top five states where you are more likely to have a collision with a deer, again according to Property Casualty 360:
West Virginia
For the seventh straight year, the state takes the prize for the highest chance of any single licensed driver hitting a deer. The odds in West Virginia show that 1 in 41 drivers can expect to collide with a deer over the next year. This actually represents an 8.3 percent improvement in the odds compared to last year.
Montana
One in 65 drivers in the state will be unlucky enough to collide with a deer this year, the odds show. Montana is unchanged as the second-most-likely state for a collision compared to last year’s survey.
Iowa
The state moves up from fourth to third in this year’s rankings. According to State Farm, a driver in Iowa has a 1 in 73 chance of hitting a deer over the next year.
South Dakota
Dropping one spot from third to fourth, drivers in this state have a 1 in 75 chance of hitting a deer this year, according to State Farm’s survey.
Pennsylvania
At fifth, the state’s ranking is unchanged from last year. A driver in Pennsylvania has a 1 in 77 chance of hitting a deer this year.
Once again, according to State Farm, there were five states that had the largest decline in chances of hitting a deer. Those states were North Dakota (down 24.8%), Nebraska (down 22%), South Dakota (down 12.6%), Michigan (11.4%) and Kansas (down 11.3%).
Then there are the top five states where a driver is least likely to collide with a deer, and they are: Florida, California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The odds of hitting a deer in Hawaii are 6786 to 1 according to State Farm, which are the same offs given to a mediocre NFL team winning 13 games in a row…which reminds me of our J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!
Of course, going back to what we said about rutting season, deer collisions are most likely in November, when approximately 18% of all incidents occur, followed by October and December.
Here are some tips that may help prevent you from striking a deer:
Pick your route:
If possible, avoid roads where the trees and brush encroach up to the gravel shoulder. This lack of an open buffer zone can reduce your reaction time. While it may be difficult to adjust your commuting routes, at least be aware that those tree lined lanes on the outskirts of the city provide the highest risks.
2. Reduce your speed:
If there was ever a time to slow down, it’s during the fall months of October and November. A lower road speed increases your reaction time and may give you those precious few seconds to come to a stop and avoid a collision.
3. Avoid swerving:
More people are injured and killed from hitting solid objects when they veer to avoid an animal than those that don’t. Colliding with an animal on the roadway is usually a comprehensive insurance claim with most insurance companies, meaning a minimal deductible and no premium increases. By contrast, swerving and colliding with a tree can be considered an at-fault collision.
4. Count on unpredictability:
If you see a deer standing off to the side of the road, don’t assume it will stay there. These animals can be very unpredictable when faced with cars in motion.
5. Like cars, deer travel in numbers:
If you spot one deer, there are bound to be several others in the vicinity. Do not let down your guard and proceed with caution.
6. Exercise your eyes:
Scan down both sides of the road ahead as you drive and keep an eye out for unusual movement of brush, low tree branches, and grasses. Deer are well camouflaged so it is often difficult to spot them on first glance.
7. Give up on gimmicks:
There is no evidence to prove deer whistle attachments have any effect on collisions and their downside is a false sense of driver security. Leave them on the store shelves.
8. Stay clear:
Avoid approaching a downed or injured deer. They can easily injure bystanders with sharp hooves and antlers.
9. Improve your vehicle’s lighting:
If you live in a rural or semi-rural area, add driving lights. Many deer collisions happen at dawn or dusk; supplementary lighting can only help. Always use your high beams when no other cars are around (unless in fog).
10. If you do hit a deer:
Try to pull into a safe spot off the road and call 911.
In addition to the potential of severe bodily injury or death when a collision with a deer occurs, the average deer vs. automobile crash is in the $3200 range for repairs… if the car can be repaired at all.
Well, that’s all for now, and until next time when we will be talking about Thanksgiving (cannot believe that it’s approaching!) and some insurance related events…”Ciao for now!”
