November is The Peak Month for Deer-Vehicle Crashes

MnDOT is reminding drivers to be on the look out for deer in the roadway, as November is the peak time for deer-vehicle crashes.

The deer are on the move because it's their mating season and when you combine that with reduced sunlight hours, accidents can happen more frequently.

From '13 to '15, there were 6,149 reported deer-vehicle crashes, according to the Department of Public Safety. There were 15 deaths and 986 injury crashes.

Here are some tip from MnDOT - Be careful out there!

• Be particularly alert in the fall and spring. More than half of the crashes happen in late October and November when deer are mating, and in May and June during the birthing season.
• Be vigilant at dusk and at dawn. A high percentage of crashes occur during the low-light or dark hours of the day when deer move between daytime bedding sites and evening feeding areas.
• Slow down and scan the sides of the road and ditches for animals when driving through forested lands or near river and stream banks. Especially drive with caution in marked deer-crossing zones and along roads surrounded by farmland or forests.
• Drive defensively and expect the unexpected. If you see a deer near the road, slow down because it might dart in front of you. If you see one deer, look for the next one. Deer often travel together but single file.
• Don't swerve. While it may seem like the right thing to do, swerving to avoid a deer could cause you to lose control or travel into the path of another vehicle. Striking a deer is safer than colliding with another vehicle or a tree. Stay in your lane, brake firmly and hold onto the steering wheel.