ARTICLE
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Motorists urged to be alert, especially on two-lane roads
Delores Flynn / The Detroit News
Rochester Hills -- Michigan ranks second in the country for deer-car crashes, just behind West Virginia, because of large populations of the animals, according to a recent report from State Farm Insurance.
More than 1 million deer roam the state, particularly Lower Michigan, where more crashes are seen in conjunction with urban sprawl in places that used to be rural, said Lori Conarton, chairwoman of the Michigan Dear Crash Coalition.
There were about 61,010 deer-car crashes in Michigan last year, down from the 61,907 in 2007, according to data being released by the coalition in Lansing and Washington Township today. Officials are reminding motorists to stay alert and slow down.
Twelve people were killed in such crashes and 1,648 were injured in 2008.
The top 10 counties for vehicle-deer crashes last year were Jackson, Kent, Oakland, Calhoun, Montcalm, Eaton, Ingham, Lapeer, Clinton and Genesee.
Some communities, like Rochester Hills in Oakland, have created advisory committees charged with finding solutions to the burgeoning deer problem. There were 168 deer-car crashes in 2008, down from 219 in 2007, according to city reports.
On Monday, the 12-member committee recommended that no deer be culled by sharpshooting or other lethal means, instead opting for improved deer crossing signs with lights, publicizing high accident crash areas and identifying areas for fence placement and brush removal. Other ideas include reminding residents not to feed wildlife, deer education awareness and developing a committee with adjacent communities. The City Council will review the recommendations for future implementation.
While deer-car accidents happen year-round, nearly half of the crashes occur in October and November, when there is more movement from the animals due to mating and hunting season, Conarton said.
"We're asking residents to stay alert and cautious, particularly on two-lane roads," she said.
The organization, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation, also advises motorists not to "veer for deer."
"Most injuries and death occur when people swerve to miss a deer and hit a tree or another car. It's unfortunate if you have to hit the animal, but worse things can happen," said Bob Felt, communications specialist for the state Department of Transportation.
dflynn@detnews.com (734) 462-2206
MI: Michigan second in deer crashes
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