November marks peak for deer collisions. Some tips on preventing crashes

Nov. 7--Fall is mating season for deer, which means they are out and about. Unfortunately for drivers that means they are out and about and can be on roads, making for potential driving hazards.

According to AAA, November and December are the most common months for motor vehicle collisions with deer due to mating season.

"More collisions between vehicles and deer occur in November than any other month," Mark Sisson, vice president of Insurance, AAA East Central said in a statement. "One of our top claims in the winter is for vehicles that have been totaled from hitting animals, and the costs can be staggering."

Pennsylvania is one of the top states for car collisions with animals. State Farm insurance said that odds are 1 in 52 in Pa. file for a claim from a collision with an animal in 2019, making in third in the U.S.

AAA offers some tips to help prevent a crash or to reduce damage from an animal collision:

-- Pay attention to road signs. Those yellow, diamond-shaped signs with deer on them actually mean the area has a high levels of deer activity.

-- Keep your eyes on the road. Do not drive distracted.

-- Especially watch out in early morning and evening hours. Many animals, especially deer, are most active during those times.

-- Slow down, deer travel in packs. If you see one, there are probably others.

-- Don't swerve. If you are going to collide with an animal, stay in your lane. Swerving could send you into the other lane and possibly on-coming traffic, causing a crash.

If you hit an animal, call the police, but don't go near the animal. A scared or injured animal could hurt you or further injure itself. Move the car to a safe location if possible and put the vehicle's hazards lights on.

Frank Carnevale is a Tribune-Review digital producer. You can contact Frank via Twitter .

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