By Steve Browne
Valley City Times-Record

    May and June are prime hunting season for deer – with cars.
    That's when the most deer crashes occur, with a second peak in November. North Dakota ranks among the top 10 states for deer-vehicle crashes, according to the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University.
    An estimated 1.5 million deer crashes occur in the United States each year, causing more than $1billion in damage and claiming as many as 150 lives per year.
    In Barnes County there have been only nine deer-vehicle crashes so far this year, none of which resulted in fatalities or serious injury, according to Sheriff's Office Deputy Linda McKenna. However, last year there were 15 in the month of November alone, and we're heading into the most dangerous time of year.
    According to the Insurance Information Institute, most deer crashes occur on two-lane roads between sunset to midnight. After dark, a deer is usually visible at about 200 feet, the Institute points out, but it takes a car going 55 mph at least 300 feet to stop under ideal conditions.
    To keep from becoming a statistic, first of all fasten your seat belt. All sources on deer crashes agree that most injuries and fatalities occur when seat belts aren't fastened.

For full story, see Thursday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.