Every 26 seconds a driver somewhere in the United States collides with a deer.

That sombering assessment comes from State Farm Insurance’s accident claims over the past two years which estimate 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles nationwide  The report covers the period from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009.

In Illinois, the number of deer-vehicle collisions is up three percent from five years ago, according to the report. That compares with an 18.3 percent increase nationwide.

Urban sprawl and other factors lead to the 1-in-228 likelihood in Illinois that adriver will hit a deer. The odds are actually down from 1-in-196 last year.

West Virginia tops the list of those states where a collision with a deer is most likely.  Michigan remains second on that list.  The likelihood of a specific vehicle striking a deer there is 1-in-78.  Pennsylvania and Iowa  remain third and fourth respectively.  Montana moved up three places to fifth.

The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,050, up 3.4 percent from a year ago.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause more than 150 fatalities each year.

Avoiding deer collisions
The chances of a collision increase during the deer mating  season in that begins in October and runs through December.

Here are tips on how to reduce the chances that a deer-vehicle collision:

• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs.  These are placed in active
deer crossing areas.

• Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.

• Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which deer will enter roadways.

• Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds — if you see one,
there is a strong possibility others are nearby.

• Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.

• If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.