10/15/2026
Don’t Veer for Deer!
Deer are especially active from October through December, so it’s important to stay alert and know what to do if you come across deer on the roadway while driving.
A vehicle crash with a large animal can be just as destructive as one with another vehicle. To avoid a vehicle-deer crash, remember to:
• Stay alert, awake, aware, and sober, and drive at safe speeds.
• Be aware of your surroundings, and be prepared for deer to dash out in front of you.
• Scan the roadside while driving, especially woodlots, fencerows, field edges, and areas near water, which deer use for feeding.
• Deer typically follow one another in single file, so if you see one deer, there are likely more nearby.
Some of the most serious vehicle-deer traffic crashes occur when a driver veers to avoid the animal, which can result in hitting other vehicles, running into a tree or other stationary objects, or the vehicle rolling over. If a crash is unavoidable:
• Do not veer for deer! It is instinct to do this, but trying to avoid a deer may cause a loss of control of the vehicle and a more serious traffic crash.
• Brake firmly and try to stay in your lane.
• Hold the steering wheel with both hands, and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.
In 2025, Michigan had 58,271 vehicle-deer crashes. As a result of those collisions, 1,724 people were injured and 13 people were killed. (Information provided by: OHSP (Office of Highway Safety Planning)
In 2025, our office had 984 vehicle-deer crashes. So far, in this month alone, we have taken 31 vehicle-deer crashes.
