Sep 15, 2014 By David Singer 2 min read

Pennsylvania recorded the second most crashes involving deer in 2013, behind only neighboring West Virginia. Ten percent of all deer collisions in the U.S. – or 123,941 – happen in the commonwealth.

The nearly eight percent increase, boosting Pa. from its number five spot last year, has 2014 odds showing a 1 in 39 chance for a driver to collide with a deer in October and November, according to data from State Farm insurance.

“October and November are the worst months when it comes to your chances of wrecking into a deer,” State Farm spokesman Dave Phillips said. “And with that, your driving behavior should change a bit. It’s going to get darker earlier, and with the animals’ seasonal behavior, with mating and hunting; coming to the roads for the last green vegetation nearby, you’re going to want to scan the sides of the road more frequently.”

Phillips said deer whistles mounted to cars may be wasted money.

“There is no data anywhere suggesting these things work, that they prevent accidents, or that deer avoid your car or the road if they can hear them. It’s basically a false sense of security.”

According to statistics from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, there were 175 fatalities nationwide in 2012 involving animal collisions.

“Frankly, if you see you’re about to hit a deer, it’s often better to hit the deer instead of making drastic maneuvers to avoid it. Don’t swerve into a tree. Now, that’s not to say don’t avoid if you can, or brake way out in front of the deer, but if it’s a last minute decision, don’t cut the wheel so your vehicle doesn’t end up on its side or in a ravine.”