The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issued a report that drivers frequently hit deer and, being large animals, such accidents are a big problem. Annually vehicle and deer collisions cause thousands of dollars in damages (per vehicle), results in many thousands in injuries and cause hundreds of deaths.

So many miles of road go through sites that contain or attract deer, such as fields and wooded areas. Naturally, when traveling, deer make no distinction about roadways, crossing the areas as needed. Though deer entering roadways may happen at any time, dawn and dusk are the most likely periods. The result is usually either a "heart-stopping" near-miss or a vehicle and animal-rending crash ... often fatal to the deer and serious to the auto and its driver.

There are a number of steps drivers can take to either avoid or minimize deer collisions:

* Watch for wildlife and reduce your speed while driving through high deer populated areas, particularly at dawn or dusk.

* Try long horn blasts to frighten the animal off the road (this also works for any other animal)

* When braking, apply them firmly and maintain your path of travel. It may seem that swerving makes since, but the maneuver will either further confuse a deer, or cause a loss of vehicle control and a collision with an off-road object or another vehicle.

* Always be sure to use your seatbelts

Avoid distractions that take your eyes off the road (Dnt txt n drv).

The chance for a deer collision is much greater from October through December because of deer mating and hunting seasons. If you do hit a deer, try to get your vehicle off the road and do not approach or touch an injured deer. It is safer to call for emergency assistance.

Lee is a Linton insurance agent. He can be reached by telephone at 847-3237 or by e-mail at Lee@thechoiceins.com .