Pa. No. 1 in car-deer collisions

Secreet knows all too well about being cautious on area roadways.

Secreet is a motorcycle rider and knows that one wrong move and he could end up meeting a deer in an unfortunate way.

"They can just jump out at any time," he said. "It's hard to drive defensively. You just have to stay alert and be familiar with the area you're traveling in."

One area of Scott that Secreet hopes drivers pay close attention to is Scrubgrass Road.

"You really have to be aware of deer in that area," he said. "They'll pop out at you without any warning."

State Farm estimates that a claim can go to $10,000 if there are injuries suffered by humans.

Many drivers wonder how to protect themselves, though.

While some drivers believe whistles help to deter deer, Doug Griffith, State Farm's Pittsburgh area public affairs specialist, said it's only a myth.

"A lot of people believe the whistles work," he said. "They don't."

The Insurance Information Institute, however, recommends using high beams when possible to spot deer sooner. The organization also says to slow down and push down on the horn for a long period of time to scare the deer.

While there's no sure way of avoiding a deer-vehicle crash, Kurta hopes drivers focus on the road and surroundings.

"One of the worst parts of being an officer is arriving onto the scene of a car accident involving a deer," he said. "The destruction caused by a deer accident is amazing."

October 24, 2007

Pennsylvania drivers beware: The state holds the top spot -- again -- for the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes.

From July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, the Keystone State recorded almost 19,200 deer-related crashes, according to information released this week by State Farm Insurance.

That's about 5,500 higher than Michigan, which came in No. 2.

But South Fayette Police Lt. Robert Kurta doesn't need statistics to tell him the numbers are high.

"I've attended too many deer-car accidents over the years," Kurta said. "It's one thing when people hit a deer and there's damage done to the vehicle, but I have seen accidents where people have suffered severe injuries because of deer coming into the car."

While South Fayette sees deer-vehicle crashes year-round, Kurta said more happen in the fall.

"We do see an increase in the number of accidents with deer this time of year," he said. "It gets darker earlier. so visibility is an issue."

But it's also mating season, or the "rut" as it is called, for whitetail deer in western Pennsylvania.

"During the rut, deer are moving about more than usual," Pennsylvania Game Commission director Carl Roe said in a press release.

"It's a time when deer become preoccupied with finding the opposite sex or staying a few steps ahead of rival suitors. It's a time when this summer's fawns -- left alone while does follow nature's calling -- sometimes naively wander into troublesome predicaments. It's a time, quite frankly, when deer don't seem to maintain that invisibility and distance that typically keeps them from dangerously interacting with Pennsylvania motorists."

But often times -- and especially around these parts -- it's too difficult to avoid dark, back roads when venturing home for the night. That's why area police departments warn drivers to be on the lookout for deer.

"They are running all over the roads this time of the year," Kurta said. "We advise people to be exceptionally cautious, particularly in the evening and night hours."

Part 2 next week: Ways to avoid run-ins with deer.