State Farm says Kentucky and Tennessee Drivers Beware of Deer

New State Farm® data shows odds Kentucky and Tennessee drivers will collide with a deer are declining

Murfreesboro, TN – Kentucky drivers are about five percent less likely to collide with a deer than they were last year, according to new claims data from State Farm. The odds drivers will hit a deer in Kentucky are 1 out of 113, above the national odds of 1 in 169.

Meanwhile, Tennessee drivers are about four percent less likely to collide with a deer than they were last year, according to new claims data from State Farm. The odds drivers will hit a deer in Tennessee are 1 out of 170, just below the national odds of 1 in 169.

Using its claims data and state licensed driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm, the nation’s leading auto insurer, estimates the state by state chances of any single American motorist striking a deer, elk or moose.

What can cause significant changes in deer collision rates in Kentucky? A decrease might occur because of a temperate winter, disease, changes in mating or hunting seasons, or several other reasons,” says Kip Diggs, State Farm spokesperson.

More 2015 State Farm deer collisions facts:

• Kentucky is ranked 14th in the country for the most deer collisions. Tennessee is ranked 29th.
• The national cost per claim average is $4,135, up 6 percent from 2014 when the average was $3,888.
• The months a driver is most likely to collide with a deer in Kentucky, mostly due to mating and hunting seasons, are:
  1. November
  2. October
  3. December
• The months a driver is most likely to collide with a deer in Tennessee, mostly due to mating and hunting seasons, are:
  1. November
  2. December
  3. October
• For the ninth year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of states where a collision is most likely with1 in 44 odds. Hawaii rounds out the bottom of the list, also for the ninth year in a row, with 1 in 8,765 odds.

Though Kentucky may not have as many deer collisions as West Virginia, these types of collisions still occur and State Farm encourages all drivers to be cautious.

Avoid becoming a statistic

Injuries, vehicle damage and fatalities all can result from vehicle collisions with deer. In 2013, 191 deaths were the result of collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

These tips could help drivers avoid a collision:

• Use extra caution in known deer zones
• Always wear your seatbelt
• At night, when there is no oncoming traffic, use high beams
• Avoid swerving when you see a deer
• Scan the road for deer and other danger signs
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles

And here are some deer facts that all drivers should know:

• Deer are on all roads
• Deer are unpredictable
• Deer often move in groups
• Deer movement is most prevalent in the fall
• Dusk to dawn are high risk times

Whether you live in Pennsylvania or Hawaii, it’s important that drivers are practicing safe driving habits and watching out for animals on the road. Wearing your seat belt and practicing defensive driving tactics could make a significant difference.

For more safety tips and state-by-state statistics, please click here.

Methodology

Using its claims data and state licensed driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm, the nation’s leading auto insurer, calculates the chances of any single American motorist striking a deer, elk or moose during the time frame of July 1st, 2014 to June 30th, 2015 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The data has been projected for the insurance industry as a whole, based on the State Farm personal vehicle market penetration within each state. The State Farm data is based on comprehensive and collision claims only. Claims involving policyholders with liability insurance coverage only are not included.

About State Farm®

The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto, home and individual life insurance in the United States. Its 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve more than 82 million policies and accounts – nearly 80 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts.

Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 41 on the 2015 Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com