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PA - Tops in Deer Related Accidents

My auto insurance company just sent me this friendly reminder, and I thought I might share it (and some other information) with you. Deer migration/mating season occurs From about October through December (or so I am told - I never really watch the deer to ensure that they are mating).

It seems that here in PA, we have lots of deer, and lots of drivers, and they keep meeting in unfortunate ways - more so than any other state, in fact.

Whether it is due to urban sprawl pressing further into undeveloped land, or overpopulation of deer (or people), or some combination of the two, deer-related accidents have been rising every year recently in nearly all states, and recent studies place PA near the top in the nation in both volume and likelihood. (We are still tops in number of accidents, just not accidents per capita).

State Farm ranks the states based on the likelihood of an accident in 2007 (with odds):

West Virginia (1 in 57)
Michigan (1 in 86)
Wisconsin (1 in 99)
Pennsylvania (1 in 100)
Iowa (1 in 109)

The safest state to be a deer? Hawaii (1 in 16,624).

The 2006 figures were based on the number of claims filed, and ranked PA first.

Pennsylvania
Michigan
Illinois
Ohio
Georgia
Virginia
Minnesota
Texas
Indiana
South Carolina

TIPS for Driving in Areas with Large Deer Populations:

Don't swerve to avoid the deer - this increases the risk of a collision with another car, and confuse the deer, increasing the possibility of a crash.
Don't rely on deer whistles or other sonic devices - there is no evidence that they are effective
Use high beams - this highlights the deer's eyes, causing them to appear to glow and making them visible from further away (it also highlights oncoming driver's eyes, so use some courtesy!)
Deer tend to travel in packs, so where you see one, expect to see others.
Wear your seat belt - statistics show that most drivers injured in deer-related accidents are not wearing their seat belt

Drive safely!

Joe Michalski

Sherlock Homes Inspections

http://www.sherlockhi.com/

Posted by Joseph Michalski - PA Home Inspector on 10/31/2007 09:25 PM

Comments (9)

deer, accidents, pa, home inspector, deerrelated accidents

This post has been included in Pennsylvania Information

9 Comments on PA - Tops in Deer Related Accidents

OCT

2007

I'm right here in Maryland between PA and WV. Keep your deer on you side of the line.

Well, actually I do like to eat them!

Joseph, thanks for passing on the tips for avoiding deer. I didn't know Pennsylvania was#1 for deer accidents, but it doesn't shock me - lots of deer, and a large population or people...

NOV

2007

I am not surprised. Most of us in PA have either personally been involved in a collision with a deer or know someone who has. Unfortunately, death is not an uncommon outcome for the driver or passenger as well. I happen to live a few miles from Valley Forge National Park. Take a drive through there and you get an idea of the deer population problem in this area.

I hit one 3 years ago in that very area and it totalled my Mountaineer, but got up and ran back into the woods.

I have never been sure if it is a deer population problem (few natural predators around here), or a people population problem (too darn much development), but it is pretty clear that the two don't often mix well where roadways are concerned.

Anyway - drive safely!!

DEC

2007

Very true...It is amazing how many deer are around and how unfearful they become around cars etc. People and cars have become second nature to them. Thanks for the info!

DEC

2007

Here in Pittsburgh, we had an ironic event happen. A high end neighborhood in suburbs was having a large deer infestation problem. The county police were having a limited approved archery hunt to thin the dear herd, before sickness caused an epidemic among the dear.

A local activist who lived in this area had the dear hunt canceled because of her protests. The morning that the hunt was to occur she wrapped her BMW around an eight point buck.

The next year when the hunt was proposed again, there were no protests.

Just wanted to let you know why we have problems with dear in Allegheny county.

Aaron

I just wrote this whole post and did not notice that I misspelled the word deer. Sorry, I will work on my spelling before the next post.

Aaron

Joe,

This is very true....and I hear about too many from friends who hunt.

APR

I remember when I visited my marketing guru (Russel) many years ago when he was consulting in Philadelphia. We were driving in Bensalem when we came across daddy deer, mommy deer, and baby deer standing in the middle of the road. It scared me because I had never seen such wildlife on the roads before.

Russel says to tell you that the only reason why Pennsylvania is #1 in deer-related accidents over Texas is because in Texas a deer-related "accident" is just another way to go hunting, so there is no need to report anything as an accident. Just pick up your kill, dress it, and take it home. I hope he's kidding, but I think not.

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