DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Officials are reminding drivers in Iowa to be on the lookout for deer this fall.
Deer are on the move, which means an increased chance of hitting one.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says nearly 3,500 drivers reported an accident with a deer in 2009. Nine people were killed.
State Farm, a leading auto insurer, says Iowa is now ranked second, behind West Virginia, on the list of those states where a driver is most likely to hit a deer.
Officials say more injuries and deaths happen when drivers try to avoid a deer. They lose control of the car or truck and run off the road or hit another vehicle.
Other tips include slowing down when you see a deer warning sign; be especially careful driving at dawn and dusk; and if you see one deer, expect more.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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