Collisions With Deer Increase In Oklahoma

Oklahoma has moved up from 33rd to 31st in the nation for frequency of deer-automobile collisions.

The rankings released Tuesday are compiled by State Farm from claims and national traffic safety data.

The company says West Virginia is the state in which drivers are most likely to hit a deer, where the odds of a deer crash are 1 in 40.

In Oklahoma, the odds are 1 in 194.8.

The frequency of deer crashes rise in neighboring states. Arkansas is 9th, Missouri is 15th and Kansas is 19th in the U.S.

Read State Farm news release.

State Farm advises drivers to pay attention to deer crossing signs and notes that deer often travel in small groups. So if a driver sees one deer on the roadside, there may be more coming.

The company also recommends not to swerve if a collision with a deer is inevitable because the driver could lose control of a vehicle or head into oncoming traffic.

10/21/2012 Related Story: Owasso Teenager Killed In Deer-Involved Wreck