Study: Minnesota Ranks No. 8 For Deer-Vehicle Collisions

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's that time of year when deer seem especially likely to leap out in front of your car.

Now, a new study by the Federal Highway Administration and State Farm Insurance shows Minnesota ranks 8th in the country for deer collisions.

That's a couple spots lower than last year.

The also study shows a driver in Minnesota has about a 1-in-80 chance of hitting a deer in the coming year.

This is the time of the year when it's most likely to happen, according to Lieutenant Eric Roeske of the State Patrol.

"Not only are deer more active, but as most of the folks in the metro area can attest to, they're being found in every part of Minnesota including the heavily populated areas" said Roeske.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports

November is the month when crashes are most likely, followed by October.

Such collisions can be dangerous. More than 7500 crashes have occurred on Minnesota roads in the past three years, including 15 in which people died. A majority were motorcyclists.

Drivers of cars are advised not to veer for the deer, because it's safer to hit deer than to run off the road or into oncoming traffic.