Mississippi Sixth in Nation in Deer-Collision Risk

According to new claims data from State Farm, the odds drivers will hit a deer in Mississippi in the coming year are 1 out of 84, twice the national average of 1 in 169. This keeps Mississippi in the top 10 list of states for the likelihood of a deer-vehicle collision. Alabama ranks 19th with a 1 in 127 chance.

Using its claims data and state licensed driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm, the nation’s leading auto insurer, calculates the chances of any single American motorist striking a deer over the next 12 months state by state.

Changes in collision rates from year to year are a reflection of changing deer densities or population levels – more deer in a given area increases the potential for collision. Deer populations are also affected by conditions such as new or improved roads with higher speeds near deer habitat, changes to hunting seasons to manage wildlife, winter conditions, and other related factors.

More 2014 State Farm deer collisions facts:

•Mississippi is ranked 6th in the country for the most deer collisions (Last year MS ranked 8th)

•The national cost per claim average is $3,888, up 13.9 percent over 2013 when the average was $3,414.

•The months a driver is most likely to collide with a deer in Mississippi, mostly due to mating and hunting seasons, are: November, December and January.

•For the eighth year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of states where a collision is most likely with1 in 39 odds. Hawaii rounds out the bottom of the list, also for the eighth year in a row, with 1 in 10,281 odds.

“With an increase in the likelihood of vehicle/deer collisions, it’s important that drivers are practicing safe driving habits and watching out for animals on the road. Wearing your seat belt and practicing defensive driving tactics could make a significant difference,” said State Farm Spokesman Roszell Gadson.

Injuries, vehicle damage and fatalities all can result from vehicle collisions with deer. In 2012, 175 deaths were the result of collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These tips could help drivers avoid a collision:

•Use extra caution in known deer zones
•Always wear your seatbelt
•At night, when there is no oncoming traffic, use high beams
•Avoid swerving when you see a deer
•Scan the road for deer and other danger signs
•Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles

And here are some deer facts that all drivers should know:

•Deer are on all roads
•Deer are unpredictable
•Deer often move in groups
•Deer movement is most prevalent in the fall
•Dusk and dawn are high risk times