With open firearm dear season beginning Sunday, Michigan State Police troopers provided Michigan drivers and hunters a handful of safety tips to stay safe this hunting season.
To avoid hitting a deer on the road, MSP recommend that drivers:
- Stay aware, awake, and sober.
- Realize that while deer collisions happen year round, they are most common in the fall and spring months.
- Recognize signs that indicate deer crossing areas.
- Know that deer are herd animals and frequently travel in a single file line. Chances are good that one deer may be followed by more.
- Are extra alert between dusk and dawn, as that’s when most accidents happen.
- Don’t rely on gimmicks like flashing headlights or honking your horn to scare away deer.
If a crash is unavoidable, troopers recommend that drivers do not swerve to avoid hitting the deer. Drivers should brake firmly, hold onto the steering wheel, and bring the car to a complete stop. Then, drivers should pull off the road and turn on their emergency flashers before reporting the collision to the nearest police and their insurance company.
Troopers also stress that motorists should always buckle up, claiming that seat belts are their best defense in a crash.
The MSP Twitter account also offered some guidelines to stay safe:
