COLDWATR, MI (WTVB) – Michigan drivers are entering the most dangerous stretch of the year on the roads for vehicle-deer collisions as we are now experiencing their annual seasonal surge.
Shorter daylight hours, the fall harvest, and the peak of the autumn whitetail breeding season have caused deer to become more active and unpredictable, especially during dawn and dusk commutes.
The Branch County Sheriff’s Office has felt this autumn rush, reporting 26 car-versus-deer accidents within just the last week.
The recent spike reflects a broader, high-risk reality for motorists, as Michigan consistently ranks among the worst states in the nation for deer-vehicle collisions, trailing only behind West Virginia and Montana with 1-in-59 odds of a driver striking a deer .
According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, motorists reported more than 58,000 deer crashes statewide last year, resulting in over 1,700 injuries and 13 fatalities.
Branch County remains a primary hot spot in southern Michigan; it recorded 981 vehicle-deer crashes last year, ranking it 24th out of Michigan’s 83 counties for total deer collisions.
In light of the rising numbers, safety officials advise drivers to reduce speed during twilight hours and firmly hold the steering wheel rather than swerving if an impact is unavoidable
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