Drivers Beware, Collisions With Deer on the Rise! I.I.I. Offers Tips to Avoid Animal-Related Crashes

NEW YORK, October 31, 2002 - With hunting and mating season in full swing, the deer population is on the move. When cars and deer meet on the highway, it can have catastrophic consequences for drivers, warns the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). More deer-auto collisions occur in October through December than any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially careful.

According to the National Safety Council, there were 520,000 animal-related accidents last year, up from 490,000 the previous year. These accidents also resulted in more than 100 deaths and 4,000 injuries. The insurance industry sees this upward trend as well.

"Deer claims are 21 percent higher in 2001 as compared to 1998, and deer claim severity has increased about 5 percent per year during the past three years for our company," says Eugene Connell, a senior vice president and division officer for the Erie Insurance Group in Erie, Pennsylvania. Erie conducts an annual auto-deer claim study.

The increase for motor-vehicle collisions with animals could be explained by increases in exposure related variables such as the number of registered vehicles, the number of licensed drivers, and the vehicle miles driven, said Kevin Fearn of the National Safety Council, the nation's leading advocate for safety and health.

As the human population continues to encroach upon wildlife habitat, the number of collisions with deer and other animals will likely increase, says Elizabeth Mosely, a spokeswoman for the I.I.I.

The I.I.I. suggests the following defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Be attentive in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.
• Be alert and drive with caution when you are moving through a deer-crossing zone. Look for other deer after one has crossed the road. Deer seldom run alone.
• Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away. If necessary, use your high-beam headlights to see the deer better.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, rather than swerve to avoid them. It can confuse the deer as to where to run.
• Wear your seat belt. Most serious injuries in car/deer crashes occur because people were not wearing their seat belt.

If your vehicle strikes a deer it's best not to touch the animal. The frightened animal, in attempting to move, could hurt you or itself, warns the I.I.I. The best procedure is to get your car off the road, if possible, and call the police.

Contact your insurance agent or company representative to report any damage to your car. Collision with a deer or animals is covered under the comprehensive portion of your automobile policy.

For more information on insurance, consumers can call the National Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-800-942-4242 or access the website at www.iii.org.

The Insurance Information Institute is a non-profit, communications organization supported by the property/casualty insurance industry.