Worst States For Deer Collisions

The Insurance Information Institute offers this advice on avoiding a deer-vehicle collision:

• Deer generally travel in herds. If you see one, others are nearby.
• Deer crossing signs aren't placed randomly. These are active deer crossing areas.
• Use caution between 6 and 9 p.m., when deer are more active.
• Use high-beam headlamps as much as possible at night, when appropriate, to illuminate the roadsides.
• Don't swerve if a deer collision seems inevitable. You might lose control of your vehicle or even hit another car.
• A car-mounted deer whistle has not been proved to be effective.

Below are the number of deer collisions by state, estimated by insurer State Farm for the 12 months ending June 30, 2012, and a ranking of odds that considered the number of licensed drivers in each state.

A deer strike is a comprehensive claim. (See “You hit a deer -- are you covered?”)

Ranking	State	Projected collisions	Chance of collision
24	Alabama	26,050	1 in 146.1
42	Alaska	1,253	1 in 411.2
50	Arizona	2,681	1 in 1,657.5
9	Arkansas	20,281	1 in 102.5
47	California	25,278	1 in 939.7
39	Colorado	11,485	1 in 329.1
36	Connecticut	9,800	1 in 299.4
22	Delaware	4,963	1 in 140.0
46	District of Columbia	495	1 in 777.7
48	Florida	14,082	1 in 990.6
25	Georgia	42,996	1 in 151.4
51	Hawaii	134	1 in 6,800.8
33	Idaho	4,602	1 in 232.4
26	Illinois	51,627	1 in 162.2
27	Indiana	34,000	1 in 163.2
3	Iowa	30,117	1 in 71.9
19	Kansas	15,887	1 in 128.0
20	Kentucky	22,650	1 in 130.3
38	Louisiana	10,182	1 in 307.8
32	Maine	4,924	1 in 207.1
14	Maryland	34,112	1 in 114.9
44	Massachusetts	8,750	1 in 524.9
4	Michigan	97,856	1 in 72.4
8	Minnesota	41,165	1 in 79.7
17	Mississippi	16,004	1 in 120.5
15	Missouri	36,592	1 in 116.0
6	Montana	9,576	1 in 77.7
12	Nebraska	12,707	1 in 106.4
49	Nevada	1,184	1 in 1,428.9
35	New Hampshire	3,705	1 in 279.9
30	New Jersey	31,192	1 in 190.8
45	New Mexico	2,474	1 in 568.2
23	New York	80,262	1 in 140.6
21	North Carolina	48,362	1 in 135.2
11	North Dakota	4,586	1 in 105.3
16	Ohio	67,699	1 in 117.6
31	Oklahoma	12,056	1 in 194.8
37	Oregon	9,159	1 in 302.4
5	Pennsylvania	115,571	1 in 75.6
41	Rhode Island	2,000	1 in 373.9
18	South Carolina	26,408	1 in 126.4
2	South Dakota	8,863	1 in 68.0
29	Tennessee	24,098	1 in 183.3
40	Texas	45,418	1 in 333.7
34	Utah	6,062	1 in 273.8
28	Vermont	2,848	1 in 180.3
10	Virginia	52,369	1 in 103.2
43	Washington	10,700	1 in 477.2
1	West Virginia	30,203	1 in 39.9
7	Wisconsin	52,525	1 in 78.7
13	Wyoming	3,716	1 in 112.9

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