MONROE - A driver in Wisconsin has a one out of 116 chance of crashing into a deer, according to statistics released recently by State Farm Insurance.
The insurance company also said the number of deer-vehicle crashes in Wisconsin were down 5 percent from five years ago.
Drivers in Green and Lafayette counties are used to seeing deer along the county and state roads. It's rare for a deer-vehicle crash not to appear in the local sheriff's reports.
According to Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick, there have been 160 deer-vehicle crashes so far in 2009. Roderick said at this time last year there 154 crashes. By the end of 2008, there were 302 deer-vehicle crashes.
"We seem to be on pace for the same amount as last year," Roderick said.
The majority of crashes take place in November, he added.
In Lafayette County, Chief Deputy John Reichling said there have been 146 crashes in 2009. There were 247 deer-vehicle crashes last year.
While most crashes take place in the early evening, it isn't uncommon for deer to run into the road at almost any time of day.
State Farm Insurance estimated a crash took place every 26 seconds. In its report, the company estimated about 2.4 million crashes occurred between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009.
West Virginia and Michigan were listed as the top two states for deer-vehicle crashes.
The state in which deer-vehicle collisions are least likely is Hawaii. 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 insurance company report said.
Tips to avoid a deer-vehicle crash include:
• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active deer crossing areas.
• Remember deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
• Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas 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.
The insurance company also said the number of deer-vehicle crashes in Wisconsin were down 5 percent from five years ago.
Drivers in Green and Lafayette counties are used to seeing deer along the county and state roads. It's rare for a deer-vehicle crash not to appear in the local sheriff's reports.
According to Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick, there have been 160 deer-vehicle crashes so far in 2009. Roderick said at this time last year there 154 crashes. By the end of 2008, there were 302 deer-vehicle crashes.
"We seem to be on pace for the same amount as last year," Roderick said.
The majority of crashes take place in November, he added.
In Lafayette County, Chief Deputy John Reichling said there have been 146 crashes in 2009. There were 247 deer-vehicle crashes last year.
While most crashes take place in the early evening, it isn't uncommon for deer to run into the road at almost any time of day.
State Farm Insurance estimated a crash took place every 26 seconds. In its report, the company estimated about 2.4 million crashes occurred between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009.
West Virginia and Michigan were listed as the top two states for deer-vehicle crashes.
The state in which deer-vehicle collisions are least likely is Hawaii. 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 insurance company report said.
Tips to avoid a deer-vehicle crash include:
• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active deer crossing areas.
• Remember deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
• Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas 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.