According to the latest information from the Michigan Office Of Highway Safety Planning, Oakland County once again leads the state for the number of vehicle-deer crashes in 2019.
Oakland County reported 1,928 vehicle-deer crashes. Statewide, 55,531 incidents were recorded. The total represents a 10 percent increase in crashes in 2019 compared to 2018, making it a 10-year high statewide.
Oakland’s 2019 vehicle-deer crash numbers were followed by Kent County, with 1,689, and Jackson County’s 1,630 incidents. Information on statewide statistics can be found on the Michigan Office Of Highway Safety Planning’s Michigan Traffic Control Crash facts website at: https://www.michigantrafficcrashfacts.org/querytool/county#q1;0;2019;;0,33:1
Information on vehicle-deer crashes in Southeast Michigan can be found on the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) website at: https://maps.semcog.org/crashlocations/.
Here are few safety tips from SEMCOG:
- Stay aware, alert and sober.
- Buckle up. Safety belts are the best defense in any collision.
- Be alert for deer in October, November and December, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Slow down. Heed deer crossing and speed limit signs, particularly on two-lane roads. Note that deer frequently travel in groups. If you see one deer crossing or standing alongside the road, chances are there are others are nearby that you might not see.
- Don’t veer for deer! If a crash is unavoidable, don’t swerve out of your lane to avoid deer. Instead, brake firmly while securely gripping the steering wheel to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. Then, safely steer your vehicle off to the side of the road.
- It’s generally safer to hit the deer than run off the road or risk injuring another motorist.
RCOC staff members and hunters put together two short videos to remind motorists about using extra caution along roadways throughout Oakland County. Deer are especially active in the fall. Here is a link to the RCOC Don’t Veer for Deer safety messages:
RCOC Don't Veer for Deer or https://youtu.be/uuHTXBcvYDQ.
