Tennessee drivers are about four percent less likely to collide with a deer than they were last year, according to new claims data from State Farm. The odds drivers will hit a deer in Tennessee are 1 out of 170, just below the national odds of 1 in 169.

Using its claims data and state licensed driver counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm, the nation's leading auto insurer, estimates the state by state chances of any single American motorist striking a deer, elk or moose.

What can cause significant changes in deer collision rates in Tennessee? A decrease might occur because of a temperate winter, disease, changes in mating or hunting seasons, or several other reasons.

More 2015 State Farm deer collisions facts:

• Tennessee is ranked 29th in the country for the most deer collisions

• The national cost per claim average is $4,135, up 6 percent from 2014 when the average was $3,888.

• The months a driver is most likely to collide with a deer in Tennessee, mostly due to mating and hunting seasons, are:

• November
• December
• October

• For the ninth year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of states where a collision is most likely with1 in 44 odds. Hawaii rounds out the bottom of the list, also for the ninth year in a row, with 1 in 8,765 odds.

Though Tennessee may not have as many deer collisions as West Virginia, these types of collisions still occur and State Farm encourages all drivers to be cautious.

Avoid becoming a statistic

Injuries, vehicle damage and fatalities all can result from vehicle collisions with deer. In 2013, 191 deaths were the result of collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the Insurance Information Institute and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. These tips could help drivers avoid a collision:

• Use extra caution in known deer zones

• Always wear your seatbelt

• At night, when there is no oncoming traffic, use high beams

• Avoid swerving when you see a deer

• Scan the road for deer and other danger signs

• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles

And here are some deer facts that all drivers should know:

• Deer are on all roads

• Deer are unpredictable

• Deer often move in groups

• Deer movement is most prevalent in the fall

• Dusk to dawn are high risk times

"Whether you live in Pennsylvania or Hawaii, it's important that drivers are practicing safe driving habits and watching out for animals on the road. Wearing your seat belt and practicing defensive driving tactics could make a significant difference," said Kip Diggs, State Farm spokesman.