June is One of the Worst Months for Deer vs. Vehicle Crashes

Accidents involving vehicles and deer might not be a major problem within Greenfield's city limits, but many of you will be taking to the road this weekend, increasing your risk of having an unpleasant run-in with the four-legged creature.

Although motor vehicle collisions with deer peak in the fall months, June is one of the worst months for driver and passenger injuries due to deer crashes. In four of the last five years, June ranked as the worst or second worst month for motorists’ injuries from deer crashes, according to Randy Romanski of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety.

“Of course, the best way to prevent injuries is to avoid crashes by driving cautiously and slowing down. You also must be buckled up in case a crash can’t be avoided,” Romanski said. “Motorcyclists must be especially careful because collisions with deer can be fatal to motorcycle drivers and passengers."

Romanski said motorcycles were involved in 12 of the 13 fatal deer versus motor vehicle crashes in 2010.

Law enforcement agencies reported a total of 16,946 deer vs. motor vehicle crashes last year. Dane County had the most with 854. Shawano County was second with 719 followed by Waukesha County with 687.

Deer are the third most commonly struck object in Wisconsin traffic crashes, behind collisions with another vehicle or a fixed object.

Here are some ways to avoid deer crashes:

• Be vigilant in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.
• Eliminate distractions while driving and don’t speed.
• Always wear your safety belt; there are fewer and less severe injuries in crashes when safety belts are worn.
• If you see a deer by the side of the road, slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
• When you see one deer, look for another one — deer seldom run alone.
• Do not swerve. It can confuse the deer as to where to run. It can also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car. The one exception is if you are riding a motorcycle. In this case, you should slow down, brake firmly and then swerve if you need to in order to avoid hitting the deer. When swerving on a motorcycle, always try to stay within the lane if at all possible to avoid hitting other objects.
• If your vehicle strikes a deer, stay in your vehicle and do not touch the animal if it is still alive. The best advice is to get your car off the road if possible, and call law enforcement.