Beckley, WV (WOAY): According to State Farm’s yearly reporting, West Virginia leads the nation in animal collisions, as 1 in 46 West Virginia drivers had an animal-related collision last year. The national average is 1 in 145.
“We do probably 50 to 60 vehicles per month here at the shop… 60 to 70% of them are animal-related incidents.”
Body shop manager Joann Tolbert at Lewis Automotive Group says her shop sees a significant increase in business during the fall, especially during the deer mating season. Tolbert says that now more than ever, it’s vital to stay alert while driving.
“Especially during this time of the year… I personally try not to drive at night. A lot of deer are blinded by the lights, so I do say to watch your speed, especially at night, and watch your surroundings around you.”
Most importantly, if a deer does appear on the road, never swerve. Remember that it’s always best to maintain your lane and apply the brakes to avoid veering off the road or into oncoming traffic.
“I always tell customers I can fix sheet metal, but I can’t fix human bodies. So you always want to use caution. You want to try to just take the hit and take the animal, because you certainly do not want to hit the guardrails. You don’t want to hit a ditch. You don’t want to hit a tree and cause more bodily damage to you as the driver.”
Reporting from beckley for newswatch 4, I’m Jonathan schwitzerlette
