Insurance Alliance of Michigan urges drivers to use caution
LANSING – The cool breeze and falling leaves are good reminders for Michigan drivers to be on the lookout for deer as most auto-deer collisions typically occur in November.
In 2021, 1,449 people were injured, and 10 people were killed in 52,218 crashes involving deer in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police. That’s up from 2020 when 51,103 vehicle crashes involving deer resulted in 5 deaths.
The Detroit Free Press recently reported that warmer temperatures and fewer hunters across the state have pushed Michigan’s deer population to an estimated 2 million deer – significantly higher than the 300,000 deer the state had 10 years ago.
More than 9,000 auto accidents involving deer occurred in November 2021, and those collisions were most likely to occur between 6-9 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. on weekdays. Michigan’s firearm deer season officially runs Nov. 15-30.
The counties with the most reported vehicle crashes involving deer in 2021 were:
- Oakland County (1,853)
- Kent County (1,810)
- Jackson County (1,544)
- Ottawa County (1,391)
- Lapeer County (1,355)
“As we head into November, we urge Michigan drivers to be on the lookout for deer,” said Erin McDonough, executive director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IAM). “Injuries and fatalities from collisions can be avoided if drivers are alert while driving and follow some safety tips.”
IAM recommends the following safety tips:
- Watch for deer, especially at dawn and dusk, when they are most active. 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 it’s likely more are nearby waiting to cross. When startled by an approaching vehicle, deer can panic and dart out from any direction.
- Slow down when traveling through deer-populated areas.
- Always wear your seat belt.
- If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, don’t swerve. Instead, brake firmly, hold onto the steering wheel with both hands, come to a controlled stop and then proceed to steer your vehicle off the roadway.
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IAM is a government affairs and public information association that represents auto, home and business insurance companies and related organizations operating in Michigan. Learn more about IAM and its members on Facebook, Twitter or at www.insurancealliancemichigan.org.
