It’s Peak Time: What are Your Odds of Hitting a Deer in Minnesota?
Car & Driver has ranked the odds of hitting a deer by state using data from State Farm. The national average is 1 in 169. West Virginia tops the list with 1 in 43 odds, but where does Minnesota rank?
From the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety: Deer-vehicle crashes peak in the autumn months, but Minnesota’s large deer population makes them a safety hazard on the road all year long. Deer crashes are especially dangerous for motorcyclists — a group which accounts for a majority of deer-related vehicle deaths.
Top Ten States Driving vs. Deer Odds
- West Virginia: 1 in 43
- Montana: 1 in 57
- Pennsylvania: 1 in 63
- Iowa: 1 in 69
- Wisconsin 1 in 72
- South Dakota: 1 in 73
- Minnesota: 1 in 74
- Colorado: 1 in 79
- Michigan: 1 in 89
- Virginia: 1 in 94
Deer Safety Tips: Do Not Swerve
You're enjoying a nice, peaceful Sunday drive, when suddenly a deer jumps out of the bushes and into your path on the highway. Your initial reaction may be to suddenly swerve to avoid the animal -- but experts advise against it!
Instead, the recommended reaction is to break in a straight line. What could result in only a minor collision could be much worse if you swerve and leave the road -- hitting another object or rolling your vehicle.
According to the info provided by Car & Driver and State Farm, the animals most struck by vehicles in the U.S. are:
- Deer
- Racoons
- Dogs
- Turkeys
- Coyotes
Now keep in mind, that's national data. Here in Minnesota the top three are in play, heck even turkeys get in the way -- but for most of us in the Land of 10,000 Lakes we could probably replace coyotes with skunks. Just going with what I see on the roads.