Be alert, especially during dawn and dusk hours. Watch video
It's fall, which means it's time for the state's annual warning to drivers: Be alert for deer.
"People should always be alert for deer when driving, but especially at this time of year, when deer can suddenly run onto any roadway, from busy highways to country roads," David Chanda, director of New Jersey's Division of Fish and Wildlife, said in a news release Thursday.
"One moment of inattentive driving can result in serious or even life-altering consequences," he said,
Peak rutting season -- the time when bucks are most actively pursuing does -- lasts from late October through mid-December across the state, the division said. Deer are most active in the dawn and dusk hours.
The state offered these tips for drivers:
- If you see a deer, slow down and pay attention to possible sudden movement. If the deer doesn't move, don't go around it. Wait for the deer to pass and the road is clear.
- Pay attention to "deer crossing" signs. Slow down when traveling through areas known to have a high concentration of deer so you will have ample time to stop if necessary.
- If you are traveling after dark, use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic. High beams will be reflected by the eyes of deer on or near roads. If you see one deer, be on guard: others may be in the area. Deer typically move in family groups at this time of year and cross roads single-file.
- Don't tailgate. The driver in front of you might have to stop suddenly to avoid hitting a deer.
- Always wear a seatbelt, as required by law. Drive at a safe speed, considering weather, lighting, traffic, curves and other road conditions.
- If a collision appears inevitable, do not swerve to avoid impact. The deer may counter-maneuver suddenly. Brake appropriately, but stay in your lane. Collisions are more likely to become fatal when a driver swerves to avoid a deer and instead collides with oncoming traffic or a fixed structure along the road.
- Report any deer-vehicle collision to a local law enforcement agency immediately.
- Avoid any distractions such as cellular devices while driving.
There are about 101,000 deer in New Jersey, down from 204,000 in 1995, according to state estimates.
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State Farm insurance, in its annual deer claim study released last week, ranked New Jersey 36th in the country for crashes involving the animals, saying drivers had a 1 in 250 chance of hitting deer in 2015-16. That's a 6.4 percent decrease from last year, when the state ranked 34th.
Neighboring Pennsylvania, however, ranks third on the list. Drivers there have a 1 in 67 chance of deer crashes, up from 1 in 70 last year when the state ranked fourth.
West Virginia topped the list both years with a 1 in 41 chance for 2015-16.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.