Georgia Car Vs Deer Crashes Climb As Mating Season Starts

ATLANTA, GA — With deer on the move looking for a mate from October through early December, chances are good that drivers are going to collide with an animal on a Georgia road. The odds a motorist will hit a deer or other animal are 1 in 116, according to State Farm Insurance.

In Georgia, drivers have a 1 in 90 chance of a collision with an animal. Most animal-involved crashes occur around dawn and dusk.

The likelihood of a vehicle-animal collision is based on the insurer’s estimate that U.S. drivers made more than 1.9 million animal collision claims from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

The 10 states with the greatest likelihood for an animal-vehicle collision are:

1. West Virginia (1 in 38)
2. Montana (1 in 48)
3. Pennsylvania (1 in 52)
4. South Dakota (1 in 54)
5. Iowa (1 in 55)
6. Wyoming (1 in 56)
7. Wisconsin (1 in 57)
8. Michigan (1 in 60)
9. Mississippi (1 in 61)
10. Minnesota (1 in 64)

Along with deer being more active as they seek mates, officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources say another cause for the spike in crashes is the end of Daylight Saving Time when the days become shorter and nights become longer. "Rush hour for most commuters tends to fall during the same hours in which white-tailed deer are most active — at dawn and dusk," officials said.

Experts say drivers can try to avoid deer collisions by taking these steps:

• Unpredictable: Always remember deer can be unpredictable. A deer standing on the side of a road may bolt into or across the road rather than away from it when startled by a vehicle.
• One Deer Usually Means More: Take caution and slow down when a deer crosses. Deer generally travel in groups, so if one crosses, be prepared that others may follow.
• Time of Day: As deer are most active at dawn and dusk, they typically are seen roadside during the early morning and late evening — the same times most people are commuting to and from work.
• Time of Year: While deer-car collisions can occur any time of year, the fall breeding season is a peak time for such accidents. Road shoulders generally provide green food both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter.
• Minimize Damage: If it is too late to avoid a collision, drivers should slow down as much as possible to minimize damage. Don't swerve to avoid the deer, this may cause more damage, sending drivers off the road or causing a collision with another vehicle.

For some perspective, State Farm actuaries say Americans have a 1 in 175 chance of being audited by the IRS, a 1 in 215 chance of dating a millionaire, a 1 in 220 chance of writing a New York Times bestseller, a 1 in 250 chance of learning their child is a genius and a 1 in 563 chance of catching a ball at a Major League Baseball game.

Any of those outcomes would be preferable to having your vehicle become one with an animal. State Farm said it expanded its annual analysis of deer-vehicle collisions this year to include other animals including ostriches, owls and more, because they, too, can be dangerous for all involved.

A 2016 study in rural southwest Virginia found that among the 1,837 cases of road kill were 64 different species, including 1,415 mammals, 188 birds, 105 reptiles, 122 domestic animals and seven frogs.

But deer still are the main hazard in most areas — especially when bucks, the males, are “in rut” and seeking a mate. During this active time for deer, bucks will run in front of your car while chasing a potential mate, or while confronting another buck that has eyes on the same doe.

“Claims after collisions with an animal range from small dents to totaled vehicles and injured drivers and passengers,” Michael Braaten, State Farm director of enterprise research, said in a news release. “By sharing ways to help drivers be aware of the increased dangers this time of year — including inclement weather, shorter periods of daylight and students driving home after evening activities — State Farm hopes to help decrease the number of collisions and injuries.”

High-frequency whistles on your vehicle aren't going to help you much, according to researchers at the University of Georgia, who tested a variety of sounds at different frequencies and intensities to see how deer reacted.

Their conclusion: Though some people swear by them, deer whistles don't change the animals' behavior.

There's also some debate on how much honking helps. It can't hurt, but it may not help, either.