HLDI and IIHS Claim Deer Collisions on the Rise

By Colin Mathews November 1st, 2008

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It seems vehicular collision with deer and other living things is on the rise. HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute), an affiliate of IIHS, claims that "animal strikes" peak in November, when they are roughly three times higher than in other months. While the agencies above do not specify the animal involved, other data point to deer as the main reason for elevated insurance claims.

Despite Americans traveling less recently, the agencies also point out that fatal crashes involving vehicular collisions with animals have shot up 50 percent since 2000. Kim Hazelbaker explains this phenomenon by pointing out that urban sprawl means that man is increasingly encroaching upon deer habitat, putting the two in ever closer proximity. More collisions are inevitable.

State Farm insurance backs up these statistics. The nation's largest auto insurer's estimates point to 1.2 million claims for damage due to animal collisions during the second half of '07 and the first half of '08. They also claim that these types of collisions have increased 14.9 percent over the past five years.

Texas is the state with the highest total number of deaths due to animal collision; the Lone Star State logged 227 deaths in all from 1993 to 2007. Anne McCartt, IIHS' senior VP for research, says that "the months with the most crash deaths coincide with fall breeding season." We aren't sure whether human or animal fall breeding is causing all of the drama, but they say if you're on a rural road and traveling over 55 mph, especially in times of low light such as dusk, dawn, and nighttime, you're apparently at the greatest risk for a collision.

The safety agencies also point out that it is not usually the actual collision that proves fatal, but rather attempts to avoid the collision (running off the road) or neglecting to use protection (seatbelts, we assume) that pose the greatest danger. So please, Texans, beware the dangers of fall breeding season and be on the lookout for armadillo, deer, bears, and other Lone Star wildlife as you head home from the annual Truck of Texas Rodeo in your winning 2009 Ford F-150 pickup.--Colin Mathews
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