It's peak vehicle-deer crash season in Michigan. Here's how to avoid collisions.

[marmar]

(Michigan Advance) A driver who hits a deer with their vehicle can obtain a salvage tag and feed their family more than 100 meals from the meat, but before such a collision occurs Michigan insurance and natural resources groups are cautioning Michiganders on how to avoid vehicle-deer crashes.

November is a peak month for vehicle accidents caused by deer in Michigan, the Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IAM) and Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) said in a news release Wednesday. As the days get shorter and colder, more deer in the dimly lit dawn and dusk hours trek toward roadways, where motorists aren’t always prepared to quickly and safely avoid collisions.

“At this time every year, we know deer are even more active across Michigan, and we urge drivers to be aware and stay safe on the roads,” said IAM Executive Director Erin McDonough in the news release.

Vehicle-deer crashes are on the rise in the state, the news release said, as more than 360 such crashes have been occurring throughout the state each day in November. McDonough said that the past two years in Michigan have marked the two highest years for deer-related crashes in the last decade with the bulk of crashes occurring shortly before the sun rises or shortly after it sets. ................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/11/14/its-peak-vehicle-deer-crash-season-in-michigan-heres-how-to-avoid-collisions/

[MiHale]

1. And during hunting season...

The deer try to find ‘safe’ places, puts them on the run, they will move about a little more erratically.

[JoseBalow]

2. From the article...

Recommendations to avoid deer-involved collisions

- Keep an eye out for deer, particularly at dawn and dusk as deer are most active at those times

- Always wear a seat belt

- When in densely deer-populated areas, slow down

- If motorists spot one deer, other deer could be nearby

- If motorists spot one deer, they often travel in a single file, so keep an eye out for additional deer attempting to traverse roadways

- When deer are startled by vehicles, they often panic, darting from any direction, so be on the lookout

- If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, bear down on the brake and hold onto the steering wheel with both hands until the vehicle is stopped, then attempt to steer off the roadway

I don't know how well they really work, but I know a lot of people who use Deer Whistles on their vehicles...