This is that time of year, it's deer mating season. It runs from October to late January. In fact, statistics show that the number of deer/auto collisions in November is nearly twice as many as those in October.

"Deer-related crashes can result in serious injuries or death," said Transportation Secretary, Bill Nighbert. He said motorists need to be a lot more cautious this time of year.

Here are some tips from the Transportation Department.

Always wear your seatbelt.

Drive defensively, constantly scanning the roadside.

If you spot a deer on the edge of the road, blow your horn. Use a long steady blast to get the deer's attention.

If a deer freezes in your headlights, flick the beams on and off to break the deer's concentration. That may cause the deer to move.

Slow down immediately. Proceed slowly until you are past the point where the deer have crossed.

Don't swerve. Stay in your lane. Most fatalities stemming from deer-related accidents involve drivers swerving, in an effort to miss the deer, and hitting a stationary object.

If the worst happens, keep both hands on the wheel and brake down steadily.

Report any deer collision, even if the damage is minor.

There are about 500,000 deer wrecks in the U.S each year, with an average of $2,000 of damage per car.