Michigan’s firearm deer season began on Tuesday, Nov. 15, and the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is using this time to push its Don’t Veer for Deer message.
According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Oakland County had the highest number of vehicle-deer crashes in 2015 of any county in the state — 1,873 incidents were reported in the county.
Overall in Michigan, motorists reported more than 47,000 vehicle-deer crashes in 2015. That number includes 1,132 people injured and 11 people killed (including five motorcycle riders) according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
Here are a few safety tips:
— Stay awake and alert
— Wear a safety belt
— Most deer are active in the early morning
and at dusk/in the evening; pay close at-
tention when driving by wooded and farm-
land areas
— If you see a deer SLOW DOWN; there are
likely more nearby
— Never swerve; instead brake slowly, stay
in your lane and bring the vehicle under
control if the crash is unavoidable
— The safest action is actually hitting the
deer

“Most fatalities and serious injury accidents happen as a result of swerving into oncoming traffic or veering off the road and losing control of the vehicle in order to avoid hitting a deer,” said RCOC Vice Chairman Eric Wilson. “For your own safety and that of other motorists and passengers, be extra cautious and do not veer for deer,” he added.