Stark, Lorain Tuscarawas top Ohio counties for deer-related crashes

CLEVELAND - The chances of an Ohio driver hitting a deer while on the road in the next 12 months is one in 118, State Farm Insurance said.

The insurance company used data from the Federal Highway Administration to determine the state of Ohio ranks 16th in the nation when it comes to deer-related crashes. This information comes just before the start of November, which is the top month for deer vs. car crashes.

In 2011, there were seven fatalities and 1,031 injuries because of crashes involving deer.

The top Ohio counties with deer crashes in 2011:
- Stark County: 615
- Hamilton County: 606
- Lorain County: 602
- Richland County: 599
- Tuscarawas County: 495

According to State Farm, motorists in West Virginia are most likely to hit a deer, with one in 40 odds.

State Farm offers the following tips to avoid these particular furry friends on the roads:
- Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds - if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.
- 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.
- 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.
- Don't rely on car-mounted deer whistles.