This is the season when deer make unexpected strolls onto Pennsylvania roadways, creating hazards for motorists; including the carcasses that end up occupying the road after a deer has been struck dead.

According to State Farm insurance claims, Pennsylvania is second in the nation for deer-car accidents — following West Virginia.

“White-tailed deer are entering a period of increased activity and are crossing roads more frequently as a result,” said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough. “While drivers should always remain alert and be on the lookout for whitetails crossing roads, there is reason to pay particular attention while behind the wheel now and in the coming weeks.”

Each year, deer cause about one million traffic accidents. Many of these accidents are minor, but some are serious. Deer-car accidents cause about 10,000 serious injuries and 200 deaths a year. Collisions with deer also cause more than $1 billion in vehicle damage.

As the weather cools, it is important that all drivers be aware of deer on the roads.

Here’s a few tips for driving on rural roads:

• Pay attention to deer crossing signs. These signs mean that there is a high likelihood that deer are in the area.

• Avoid distractions. Deer are hard to see, especially at night. Keep your eyes on the road.

• Use your high beams when driving at night. Your high beams will allow you to scan the sides of the road for deer. Turn off your high beams if another car approaches you.

• Do not depend on car-mounted deer whistles. These do not work.

• If you see a deer, slow down, turn on your hazard lights, and come to a stop. Don’t swerve — even if an accident is inevitable. Swerving may cause you to crash into another vehicle or lose control of your car.

• Wait for the deer to move out of your path. Do not use the horn to startle the deer; the deer may jump towards your vehicle.

• If you see one deer, expect more. Deer tend to travel in groups.

• Buckle up. If you hit a deer, your seatbelt could save your life.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in Pennsylvania, it’s not illegal to hit a deer and drive off without reporting it to police. However, it probably still should be reported, along with the accident, for a few reasons. If the collision results in damage to a vehicle or personal injury, motorists will need to fill out an official report with the police for insurance purposes.

What else should be done immediately after hitting a deer? Here are some suggested steps from the Pennsylvania Game Commission:

• Move your vehicle to a safe place — Deer hang out by the side of the road most commonly at dusk and dawn when lighting conditions are less than ideal. So, if you do end up hitting a deer, the first thing you’ll want to do is move your car to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights.

• Call the police — As mentioned before, calling the police isn’t required by law, but definitely recommended for insurance purposes as well as for the safety of other drivers. If the deer is laying in the middle of the road, police officers will be able to clear the road as well.

• Document the incident — But only take this step if leaving your vehicle doesn’t put your safety in question. If the coast is clear, take pictures of your vehicle, the roadway, and any injuries sustained by you or your passengers to send to your insurance agency.

• Contact your insurance — The sooner you can contact your insurance agent and file a claim, the better. File a claim as soon as you can, though it may not be possible if the accident occurs late at night or early in the morning.

With deer becoming increasingly active, and daylight saving time soon to put more vehicles on the road during the hours when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.

A driver who hits a deer with a vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. However, if the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they must call the Game Commission region office representing the county where the accident occurred, and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to provide a free permit number, which the caller should write down.

A resident must call within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer. A passing Pennsylvania motorist also may claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle hit it doesn’t want it.

Those taking possession of road-killed deer also are advised of rules related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) that prohibit the removal of high-risk deer parts — essentially the head and backbone — from any established Disease Management Area (DMA). Those parts must be removed before the deer is transported outside a DMA. For DMA maps, the complete list of high-risk parts and other information on CWD, visit the Game Commission’s website at www.pgc.pa.gov.

Antlers from bucks killed in vehicle collisions either must be turned over to the Game Commission, or may be purchased for $10 per point by the person who claims the deer. Also, removing antlers from road-killed bucks is illegal.

If a deer is struck by a vehicle, but not killed, drivers are urged to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on. However, if a deer does not move on, or poses a public safety risk, drivers are encouraged to report the incident to a Game Commission regional office or other local law-enforcement agency. If the deer must be put down, the Game Commission will direct the proper person to do so.

To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.