"More than 45,000 Michigan motorists collided with deer in 2016, and such crashes accounted for a third of traffic accidents last November.

Deer-vehicle crashes injured more than 1,200 people and killed 14 in 2016."

Southwest Michigan made the list at #4 with Portage reporting 163 accidents in one year! Don't let yourself be one of the accidents this fall season!

The Michigan Deer Crash Coalition recommends the following safety tips:

  • Watch for deer, especially at dawn and dusk. They are most active then, especially during the fall mating season. In spring, deer will move from cover to find food, and back to cover. Often, deer will feed along road rights-of-way, where grass greens up first. If you see one deer, approach cautiously, as there may be more out of sight.
  • Deer often travel single file, so if you see one cross a road, chances are more are nearby waiting to cross, too. When startled by an approaching vehicle, they can panic and dart out from any direction without warning.
  • Be alert all year long, especially on two-lane roads. Watch for deer warning
  • signs. They are placed at known deer-crossing areas and serve as a first alert that deer may be near.
  • Slow down when traveling through deer-population areas.
  • Always wear your seat belt.
  • If a crash with a deer is imminent, don’t swerve, brake firmly, hold onto the steering wheel with both hands, come to a controlled stop and steer your vehicle well off the roadway

Be safe on the roads my friends!

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