Car-deer accidents linked to season
ESCANABA — While many deer are harvested by hunters during the annual firearm deer season in Michigan, many deer are also killed by motorists who are reminded year-round to watch out for the wildlife on the roadway.
Nearly 50,000 vehicle-deer crashes are reported each year in Michigan with 80 percent of these crashes occurring on two-lane roads between dusk and dawn, mostly in the fall and spring when deer are more active, according to the State Farm Insurance website.
Locally, the Delta County Sheriff’s Department received reports from drivers on 27 car vs. deer collisions in October. That amount was exceeded in November when two motorists also reported their vehicles hitting a wolf and a bear.
Car-deer collisions likely occur more often than are reported to local police agencies because some incidents involve minimal damage to vehicles.
Sgt. Keith Carlson of the Michigan State Police Post in Gladstone said fall is typically the time of year when the most vehicle/deer collisions occur especially during hunting season.
“In my experience, this time of year is definitely the worst,” the trooper said.
“In the fall and typically during hunting season, you see an increase in car/deer accidents. Hunters are in the woods baiting and scaring deer out of different areas and the deer are moving a lot more on the roadways,” Carlson added.
To avoid hitting deer on the road, motorists are advised to be aware of the potential for deer crossing roadways especially at dawn and dusk in the spring and fall. Deer are herd animals and often travel in single file, so where’s there one deer there may be more so drivers are advised to slow down.
If a crash is unavoidable, motorists are advised to not swerve but brake firmly, hold onto the steering wheel, and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
According to the Michigan Deer Crash Coalition (MDCC), almost 50 percent of deer crashes occur in Michigan during the months of October, November and December. In 2015, 44 percent of all vehicle-deer crashes occurred in the fall, according to the traffic safety organization working to reduce these types of crashes.
“Vehicle-deer crashes in Michigan are expensive, causing at least $130 million in damage annually,” said Lori Conarton, MDCC chair, in a news release.
In 2015, there were 47,001 deer vehicle crashes in the state, up from 45,690 during 2014. Oakland County had the most deer/vehicle crashes last year with 1,873 incidents reported.
“Injuries and deaths are associated with motorists veering to avoid the deer,” added Conarton, who represents the Insurance Institute of Michigan on the coalition.
Last year, 11 people were killed in deer crashes, including five on motorcycles. A total of 1,132 motorists were reported to be injured in deer/vehicle crashes in 2015.
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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net