[OffTheHook]

[Image: http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/gPNN8F...erroad.jpg]

If you've ever lived in the eastern or central United States, chances are you've seen a deer test fate by dashing across a busy road -- or worse, test your fate as well by triggering a car crash. A new study finds that car-deer crashes are rising sharply after a few years of decline, just in time for the peak season when Bambi's most likely to hit the interstate. The reason? More cars on the road -- and more deer than ever.

Research has found that about 200 people a year in the United States die in crashes caused by darting deer. State Farm Insurance used its claims data to research the problem and estimated that deer hit 1.23 million vehicles between July 2011 and June 2012. Over the past four years, State Farm says, claims from deer hits rose nearly 8 percent, while claims from all other types of collisions fell 8.5 percent.

[Image: http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/0XLzKm...rchart.jpg]

Most deer-vehicle violations fall into a belt of states in the northern and eastern United States, although as this map from State Farm shows, several southern states also run high risks. The worst state: West Virginia, where a motorist has a 1 in 40 chance of hitting a deer in the next 12 months. South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania round out the top five states with the most risk of buck-to-bumper contact. (The lowest: Hawaii, where State Farm says your chances of hitting a deer with a car are smaller than that of being struck by lightning.)

Part of the reason there's more deer accidents comes from the rising number of all kinds of accidents; as the economy starts to grow again, more people get back to commuting or driving longer distances. But the bigger factor comes from America's overpopulated deer herds, estimated at 20 million animals, which have grown even in states where thousands of hunters believe the second week of deer camp is the greatest time of year. Some critics say current hunting rules makes the problem worse by limiting does; others note that suburban sprawl means more deer have places to graze without natural predators where hunting isn't allowed. Many cities have turned to controlled hunts to lower their deer count, but that may only reduce numbers temporarily.

State Farm says November is the peak month for deer strikes, and unfortunately for drivers, there's no guaranteed way to avoid a deer crash. Driving with high beam headlights on as much as possible and watching for deer crossing signs can help; the whistles that mount on your bumper and supposedly scare off deer won't. The only trick that will ensure your safety: Move to Hawaii.



http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/d...00315.html

[Granny Bear]

^^
Kentucky should be in the high risk area!! I seem them all the time, where I travel so much.
About this time last year, I spotted one just north of London on I-75. I had passed some big trucks a few miles back, so I stopped on the interstate, turned off my lights and blew my horn to try to save this buck's life!! He turned around, snorted, actually pawed the ground like a bull and charged my car. Husband said it was "rut" season, and he wasn't surprised.

I got him off the interstate, and he didn't hit my car, but it took a lot of screaming at him!!

[judgementday]

They seem to be everywhere when I am out driving at night.

[Granny Bear]

I actually saw a lady in front of me hit one last year on 119. Sucker flew at least 50 feet in the air!! The deer was dead on impact, too. She was driving a small car; pretty much destroyed her hood and broke her windshield.

[Stardust]

If only they would move the Deer Crossing signs away from the high traffic areas, we could cut down the number of collisions considerably! Deer should only be allowed to cross the road in remote, rural locations!

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[RunItUpTheGut]

I think KY has one of the highest rates of deer on the roads, but i believe its not shown on the map because drivers here are very cautious and knowledgable of deer while they drive.
Im sure we'd be one of the top ones if certain drivers in this state didnt drive slow in areas where its no unccommon to see a deer.

[Do-double-gg]

I remember one year when I worked at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty. I was driving home from work and I was in Elliott Co. I was about 200 yards from a field when I saw the eyes shining when all of a sudden a deer bolted for the road. I had about 5 long seconds to stop or slow down but all I could do was say, there's no way I can hit it, it will get across before I get to it. And then I think you know how that worked out.nicker:

[BlackcatAlum]

I smoked two last year, thankfully all it did was crack my plastic grill.