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By The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.

Oct. 05–CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Drivers in West Virginia hit deer more frequently than motorists in any other state, and with the annual whitetail mating system under way, Mountain State drivers are warned to take special precautions while traveling — especially at dusk and dawn.

During 2009, West Virginia posted the nation’s highest rate of vehicle-animal collisions, according to USAA, America’s eighth-largest auto insurance provider. The ranking was calculated on the number of animal collisions per insurance-covered exposure.

Rounding out the Top 10 list were South Dakota, Iowa, Montana, Michigan, Wyoming, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Mississippi.

While human fatalities and injuries due to motor vehicle accidents dropped between 2008 and 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USAA claims records indicate that car-deer collisions have risen by 7 percent during the same period.

Deer-vehicle collisions start to rise in September and peak in November, a period that coincides with the annual rut season, according to USAA data. Last year, 69 percent more claims for animal-vehicle collisions were filed during the fall than in the spring.

The average animal-vehicle collision claim was $2,886 in 2009, according to USAA. According to the Institute for Highway Safety, the number of human deaths from collisions with animals rose nearly 19 percent between 2001 and 2008, from 177 to 210.

“These findings remind motorists to be extra vigilant of deer during the fall, particularly during the dawn and dusk hours, when deer are looking for food,” said Ken Rosen, USAA’s senior vice president of claims.

According to the Institute for Highway Safety, most fatalities from deer-vehicle collisions would not have occurred if motorists used seat belts.

When drivers encounter deer on the highway, the insurance company recommends braking firmly, but not swerving to avoid the deer. Drivers also should resist the temptation to flash on their high-beam headlights when deer appear in front of them, since deer might stop in their tracks rather than move to safety.

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