Tennessee deer-vehicle collisions on the rise

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Reservoir Blogs - George Thwaites blogs about fishing, hunting, conservation and outdoors

Tennessee deer-vehicle collisions on the rise

Published Tuesday, September 29 2009 - (0) Comments

The archery deer season opened in Tennessee this past weekend. And not a moment too soon.

According to claims data recently released by State Farm Insurance, the number of deer-vehicle collisions in Tennessee is up 22 percent from five years ago.

Then again, it could be worse. The chances of hitting a deer while driving any one vehicle in Tennessee is 1-in-268. That's pretty significant, but not necessarily the basis for a deer-dodging video game.

Consider West Virginia, the state where collision with a deer (or just about anything, one would imagine) is most likely. The chance of a vehicle in the Mountain State striking a deer over the next 12 months is a staggering 1-in-39. Michigan is second on the list, offering a 1-in-78 chance of a vehicular collision involving a cervid.

Those crazy Yoopers! Every now and again, they've been known to run over bears. But never wolverines.

Since the good folks at State Farm would just as soon not have to pay claims for all the damage, injury and potential death these unfortunate encounters can generate, here are a few tips (paraphrased by us) offered in hopes of reducing these collisions.

-- Pay attention to "Deer Crossing" signs. They have been put there for a reason.

-- Keep in mind that deer are most active between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

-- Use high beam headlamps as much as possible . The added light helps to reveal deer before they actually enter the roadway.

-- Deer generally travel in herds. If you see one, there are probably others nearby.

-- So called "deer whistles" on cars are not to be relied upon for protection.

-- If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause one to lose control of one's vehicle, or veer into the path of another oncoming motorist.

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