Oh, Buck! Study says deer-automobile accident rate up by 18% over last 5 years
What do New Jersey and Nebraska have in common? If you said "absolutely nothing," you'd be right – on any other day but today. Turns out that the Garden State and the Cornhusker State share a very curious stat. Both have seen a 54% increase in deer-related automobile accidents over the last two years. That 54% increase is the largest in the nation, which shows that the problem of deer-related car crashes isn't confined to just one location, but rather a national problem.
According to a new State Farm study, the number of cars on the road has grown by 7% over the last five years, but the number of deer-related accidents has swelled 18% in that same time period. No reason why is given in the article, but we'd wager it's a combination of 1) more deer and 2) more and more humans living closer to deer populations. The study does, however, provide some pretty eye-opening statistics.
For examples, State Farm estimates that between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 there were 2.4 million accidents in the United States involving
[Source: State Farm | Image: Hulton/Getty]
Gallery: IIHS Bumper Crashes
PRESS RELEASE:
Deer-Vehicle Collision Frequency Jumps 18 Percent in Five Years
WEST VIRGINIA CONTINUES TO LEAD COLLISION LIKELIHOOD LIST
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of vehicles on U.S. roadways has grown by 7 percent over the last five years. But the number of times those vehicles have collided with deer has swelled by much more than that.
Using its claims data, State Farm®, the nation's leading auto insurer estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 (100,000 per month). That's 18.3 percent more than five years earlier. To put it another way, one of these unfortunate encounters occurs every 26 seconds (although they are much more likely during the last three months of the year and in the early evening).
MORE DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS
Among the 35 states where at least 7,000 deer-vehicle collisions occur per year (we are not including the percentage changes in the other 15 states plus D.C. because the lower volume of total collisions makes the percentage changes less credible), New Jersey and Nebraska have posted the largest increases, 54 percent. Kansas is next at 41 percent. Deer-vehicle collisions have jumped by 38 percent in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas. Then come Oklahoma (34 percent) and West Virginia, North Carolina and Texas (33 percent).
LIKELIHOOD OF DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS
For the third year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of those states where a collision with a deer is most likely (for any one vehicle). Using its claims data in conjunction with state motor vehicle registration counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm calculates the chances of a West Virginia vehicle striking a deer over the next 12 months at 1 in 39. Such an encounter is even more likely in West Virginia than it was a year ago.
Michigan remains second on that list. The likelihood of a specific vehicle striking a deer there is 1 in 78. Pennsylvania (1 in 94) and Iowa (1 in 104) remain third and fourth respectively. Montana (1 in 104) moved up three places to fifth.
Arkansas and South Dakota each dropped a spot to sixth and seventh. Wisconsin remains eighth. North Dakota and Virginia round out the top 10.
The state in which deer-vehicle collisions are least likely is still Hawaii (1 in 9,931). The odds of any one vehicle hitting a deer in Hawaii during the next year are roughly equivalent to the odds of randomly picking a piece of clover and finding it has four leaves.
The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,050, up 3.4 percent from a year ago.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause more than 150 fatalities each year.
AVOIDING DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS
These collisions are more frequent during the deer migration and mating season in October, November and December. The combination of growing deer populations and the displacement of deer habitat caused by urban sprawl are producing increasingly hazardous conditions for motorists and deer.
"State Farm has been committed to auto safety for several decades and that's why we want to call attention to potential hazards like this one," said Laurette Stiles, State Farm Vice President of Strategic Resources. "We hope our updated information will inspire motorists to make safe decisions."
Here are tips on how to reduce the chances that a deer-vehicle collision involving your vehicle will be part of the story we tell in next year's version of this news release:
-- Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active
deer crossing areas.
-- Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
-- Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the
areas from which deer will enter roadways.
-- Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds - if you see one,
there is a strong possibility others are nearby.
-- Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.
-- If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the
way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in
the path of an oncoming vehicle.
About State Farm
State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
Source: State Farm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Taglane 7:11PM (9/29/2009)
lmfao. you mean like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGJ0fJN10YY
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MajorGeek 7:12PM (9/29/2009)
Maybe if the deer wore helmets?
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Pokey 7:13PM (9/29/2009)
I have had some pretty nasty deer encounters on the roads here in Indiana in my life, but the worst had to be about twelve years ago on I-69.
I was travelling north on I-69 in a white '70 Monte Carlo, passing a semi, when a deer bounded out of the ditch on the right side, and right into the path of the semi. I was about halfway past the semi, and when it hit the deer dead center, the deer pretty much exploded. My white Monte was covered in blood splatter. When I got to work, and pulled into the parking lot, all of my coworkers were looking at my car like, "WTF?".
It was pretty nasty. I was fully expecting there to be some small chunks lodged in my grill, but luckily, all I had to clean up was the blood.
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Pokey 7:45PM (9/29/2009)
Also, a deer killed my Corrado. :(
Jordan 7:14PM (9/29/2009)
How are your odds 1 in 10,000 to hit a deer on the road in hawaii when hawaii has zero deers. yes zero. none were indeginous and none were brought over.
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Mental Issues 7:44PM (9/29/2009)
Uh, a quick google search proves you wrong:
http://www.rarehawaii.org/deerpage/deer.htm
Jordan 8:25PM (9/29/2009)
Thanks Mental,
I didnt know they brought over 9 deer from india in 1959 that has resulted in 20,000 deer by 2008.
wow.
massive inbreading!
TriShield 7:18PM (9/29/2009)
When I lived in South Dakota I managed to hit at least one a year. Deer (some quite large) are also common road kill to see there. People have even died with them coming through the windshield.
I had a '92 Buick LeSabre out of high school that I managed to hit 6 deer with over the years that I owned it. All but one in rural country night driving. I managed to avoid many more.
When driving at night I slow down to 55-60mph and constantly scan the road and ditches on both sides with my foot on the brake ready to push. That way of driving has saved me quite a few times.
It would help if State Game, Fish & Parks would make deer hunting season longer and increase the amount of deer hunters can take.
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m 7:23PM (9/29/2009)
"1) more deer and 2) more and more humans living closer to deer populations."
I'd say more likely than either of these being factors is the possibility that people are driving more than they were a few years ago. They don't give any of their numbers per vehicle mile traveled, which is one of the things they'd have to do if they expected anyone to get any meaningful information out of them. Statistics can say whatever you want them to say as long as you present them your way.
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Wolf 7:23PM (9/29/2009)
I'm running about 1:1 on deer hitting my car vs. me hitting a deer with my car. The mind truly boggles at how anyone in Hawaii would hit a deer though.
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JD 7:29PM (9/29/2009)
@ post #1: rofl
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Venom 7:48PM (9/29/2009)
I hate deer.
When I was in college I hit 2 deer in one week in 2 different cars.
Neither of the deer died either.
The funny thing is the argument for hunting deer is because they cause accidents but here in Michigan you are most likely to hit deer during hunting season because all the hunters drive the deer out of the woods and into the roads.
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sydbot 8:05PM (9/29/2009)
As a hunter, I would not say I see more deer on the roads during hunting season. If anything, the hunting drives them further into the woods and makes them incredibly people shy. I more under the belief that new products at Taco Bell draw them out into roads. (at least based on the location of the deer I saw the other week walking down a boulevard at 2 am a few weeks back)
Conundrum 8:17PM (9/29/2009)
Venom in your ultimate wisdom you fail to realize that during autumn, deer begin the rut which generally coresponds with hunting seasons. The deer are going to move in irregular ways wether hunters are in the woods or not.
Lets see. What options do we have?
1. Stop hunting deer. In return the population explodes and leads to rocketing deer/ car incidents as well as deer suffering from starvation and more disease than ever seen in americas deer population.
2. Control deer populations by artificial means such as contraceptives. This could cause un-natural deflation of the herd which would also impact other species such as predators and scavengers. Not to mention it would cost tax payers a bundle.
3. Introduce and expand predators such as cougars, wolves, coyotes, and bears... just what everyone in New Jersey wants roaming thier back yard while the kids are out playing.
4. Allow hunters to keep populations in check with healthy herd size determined by knowlegable wildlife officers for the state. At the same time providing income to the state though hunting licenses and lean heathy (ultra organic) food for those who harvest the deer.
Venom 8:31PM (9/29/2009)
Conundrum,
You loud mouthed buffoon that obviously loves to hear himself talk and not listen to others or read.
You might want to read my comment again.
Where exactly in my statement did I say I was against hunting the deer?
I have lived in Michigan long enough to know that it is no coincidence that the deer are more prone to wander into the roads when they are being hunted no matter what theories you have about their migration patterns.
I am well aware that without hunting them their population will explode and the end result will be the same or worse.
So good luck hunting them, I just stay off the roads when it is dark during hunting season and its works quite well for me.
Tim Rosencrans 2:44AM (9/30/2009)
You have really stupid deer around you then. In my part of Michigan the deer disappear the first day of deer season. Yep the smart little bastards know the day the season starts and ends. you can go out and see them all over the week before than poof---no public appearances till after december. Note I have had many near misses with deer both in UP and LP but never one during deer season.
Adam 7:53PM (9/29/2009)
Poor deer. If it wasn't bad enough that they have to worry about rednecks murdering them to show how "big powerful and strong" they are. They also have to worry about being hit by cars.
Like I always say, nothing better than when hunters shoot and kill each other (be it accidentally or on purpose.)
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sydbot 8:10PM (9/29/2009)
No, they just have to worry about passing CWD and TB between each other. Oh wait! They have no idea what those are and how terrible they could be to a population. Wildlife management is a lot more complicated and necessary than hippies believe.
Farris 8:11PM (9/29/2009)
What an asinine thing to say.
Adam 8:17PM (9/29/2009)
Wildlife management you say? Why is that necessary? Oh yeah, because rednecks have killed the majority of predators.