The odds of colliding with a deer while driving in Indiana are increasing, according to a study conducted by State Farm Insurance.
In 2016, State Farm says Indiana drivers are 5-percent more likely to collide with a deer than they were last year. The data is based on claims data from the insurance company.
Jonathan Trudeau is a graduate student at Ball State University studying the impact of urbanization on the White Tail Deer population in Indiana.
“In a lot of situations where there’s an increase in deer-vehicle collisions, it’s usually an increase in deer population or it’s a change in the environment. You know, a new road gets put in or some road gets diverted to a new area so there’s an increase in traffic in that area,” Trudeau says.
Indiana is ranked 23rd in the country for the most deer collisions.
According to the study, the most dangerous months for deer collisions are during mating season: October through December.
State Farm is urging drivers to take precautions while driving, such as using high beams and paying close attention to deer crossing signs.