AAA: As the light fades in fall, stay alert and don't look for deer

It’s fall, which means deer are on the move.

The females are approaching mating. The bucks have scraped the velvet from their antlers and are marking territories. The fawns born this year have grown enough to show some independence and have strayed from their mother.

The bottom line is that more deer are showing up on roadsides – or crossing roads. Or standing along roads.

Motorists should pay attention, especially as dusk comes earlier each day, causing deer and motorists to be out and about at the same time each evening. Things will get even worse after the time change this weekend, which will bring sunset in the Iron Mountain area just after 4:30 p.m.

According to AAA-The Auto Club Group, more than 43.8% of deer accidents in Michigan occur during the months of October, November and December.

Last year, 19 people died in deer accidents. Eight were motor vehicle occupants and 11 were motorcyclists, AAA said in a news release. Another 1,725 people were injured in clashes with deer.

In Michigan, vehicle deer collisions are expensive, causing more than $130 million in damage annually. The state has a deer herd of almost 2 million individuals. Deer often travel in groups. If one deer crosses the road, there are probably more nearby.

“With the start of mating season for white-tailed deer and more traffic in the woods than normal, fall is an especially dangerous time for deer vehicle accidents in Michigan,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman for AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Shorter days require motorists to be on the lookout for deer, especially at dawn and dusk.”

The state had 58,806 vehicle deer crashes in 2023, down slightly from 58,984 in 2022. Kent County had the most crashes with 2,171. The remaining top nine were Oakland with 2,125, Genesee with 1,605, Allegan with 1,545, Jackson with 1,521, Ottawa with 1,517, Lapeer with 1,505, Calhoun with 1,332, Washtenaw with 1,320 and Clinton with 1,306.

Although no Upper Peninsula county appears on the list, motorists need only glance at the carcasses that regularly appear along the roadside – even in urban areas – to know that deer and vehicles often cross paths with poor results.

To prevent them from becoming part of the 2024 deer crashes, AAA recommends these safety tips for motorists:

– Stay awake, alert and sober;

— Always wear a seat belt;

— Be especially alert at sunrise and sunset;

– If you see a deer, slow down as there are probably others nearby;

— If a collision is unavoidable, do not swerve. Brake hard, hold the steering wheel, stay in your lane and bring your car to a controlled stop.

AAA has slightly different advice for motorcyclists:

– Stay awake, alert and sober;

— Slow down and be alert for deer wherever and whenever you drive;

— Cover the brakes to reduce reaction time;

— Use high beam and additional driving lights where possible;

– Wear protective clothing at all times.