Error processing SSI fileBeware encounters with deer on road
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When it comes to car-deer crashes, October, November and December are the months that really put the "Bam" in Bambi.
During the course of the year, there are nearly 68,000 crashes between motorists and some of Michigan's 1.75 million whitetail deer, according to AAA Michigan. Those crashes result in fatalities, injuries and at least $130 million a year in damages.
The last three months of the year are the worst for such crashes because it's when deer are feeling extra frisky and risky during their mating season. Nearly half of all car-deer crashes occur during these three months; crashes spike again in spring when the first grass of the spring appears along highway rights of way.
Recognizing these odds, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proclaimed October as Michigan Car-Deer Crash Safety Awareness Month.
Last year, three motorists were killed and 1,647 were injured in crashes with whitetails. On average, there are 185 crashes involving deer every day of the year in Michigan.
That's one about every eight minutes, and they occur all over the state, including the Metro area.
I had my encounter with a deer about five years ago in the Upper Peninsula when a doe ran across a paved two-lane road near L'Anse. It was night, and the eyes of many deer were reflected in my headlights.
I was driving extra slow, but it didn't make any difference.
Yeah, it was the U.P., but it can happen anywhere. My daughter hit a deer on the campus of Michigan State University about four years ago. The deer was killed, and she was uninjured, but her car was totaled.
In 2004, we saw a reduction in the number of total car-deer crashes, which are at their lowest level since 1995.
According to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center, there were 62,707 deer-vehicle crashes in 2004, down approximately 7.4 percent from the 67,760 crashes reported in 2003.
Think like deer when driving
The Michigan Deer Crash Coalition -- groups representing police, traffic safety, insurance and other groups in the public and private sector -- is working hard to further reduce the number of crashes. The theme of their campaign this year is "Don't Veer for Deer."
"Statistics show that most motorist deaths and injuries occur when drivers swerve to avoid hitting the deer and strike a fixed object, such as a tree or another vehicle," said coalition chairman Richard J. Miller of AAA Michigan. "No one wants to see a deer destroyed, but striking the animal is often the safest action."
The coalition is urging motorists to "think deer" when they get behind the wheel. Remember that deer are most active at dawn and dusk, especially during the fall mating season. In spring, deer move from cover to find food, and then back to cover. They often feed along roads. If you see a deer, be aware that there may be more just out of sight. Deer often travel in single file, so if you see one cross a road, chances are there are more waiting to cross. Deer startle easily, which means they can panic and dart out into a roadway. Be especially careful on two-lane roads, where most crashes occur. Pay attention to deer warning signs; they're there for a reason.
If a crash is inevitable, try to remember the following tips:
• 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.
Copies of the brochure "Don't Veer for Deer" are free at www.michigan.gov/ohsp, by fax (517) 336-2663, phone (517) 333-2722 or e-mail trafficsafety@michigan.gov.
Commuting
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