Georgia is fifth in the nation for deer collisions; now is the most active season for Wilkes deer

It's not your imagination - we in Georgia do have more collisions with deer than most places. And right now, with the Wilkes County deer population at its most active, this a dangerous time of the year for both driver and deer.

Georgia's teeming deer population puts the state in the top five nationally in collisions with deer.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety there are an estimated 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions annually in the United States, causing more than 150 fatalities and $1.1 billion in property damage.

According to State Farm's annual claim statistics, the states with the highest number of accidents involving deer last year were Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia, in that order.

The most recent State Farm claims data shows 9,406 deer-related vehicle collision claims in Georgia, up almost 11 percent from the last deer season. From July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, average property damage cost was $2800, up $300 from the previous year.

Recommended precautions drivers can take to help prevent accidents with deer include:

Be aware of posted deer-crossing signs. These signs are placed in known active deer-crossing areas.

Be aware that deer are most active during the evening, between 6 and 9 p.m.

At night, use high-beam headlamps as much as possible to illuminate the sides of the road where deer can linger.

Be aware that deer often move in packs - if you see one deer, there is a good chance several more are just a few yards behind.

Don't rely on car-mounted "deer whistles." Studies have shown deer are not affected by this deterrence method.

If a collision with a deer seems inevitable, it may be best not to swerve. The risk of personal injury is greatly increased by swerving, which can place you in the path of oncoming vehicles or may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

"While research has revealed several innovative ways to deter deer from entering the roadways and alerting drivers to the dangers of deer in the area, there will always remain a constant danger of deervehicle collisions," said Melissa Miles, senior research analyst for State Farm.

"Undoubtedly, the best way to avoid deer-vehicle collisions is through attentive driving behavior."

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