Though it’s a little early for Santa’s reindeer, a Michigan State Police cruiser’s dashcam captured a rare sight- a deer jumping clear over the middle of a car, escaping unscathed from the incident.
Trooper Anderson was driving behind another car on a highway when suddenly, a small herd of deer started to run across the road. Thankfully no one was injured, and no deer were struck by any vehicles.
As reported by the New York Post,
The dashcam of the Michigan State Police cruiser captured the first deer clearing the car. The second deer would have run straight into the driver’s side door – but it amazingly jumped clean over the car. A third deer ran behind the car and just in front of the trooper, who quickly but calmly put his brakes on to let the deer continue running across the road.
The State Police decided to use the footage as an opportunity to teach the community important deer safety tips. According to Michigan.gov, the state sees about 50,000 vehicle-deer crashes every year.
If you happen to see a deer while driving, the agency reminded people to apply calm, controlled braking and to steer straight instead of swerving.
The Michigan State Police sent out a Twitter post saying, “No one wants to hit a deer, but if you try to avoid the deer, the chance of crashing into another vehicle or losing control increases.”
How to Avoid Hitting a Deer
- Slow down. Watch for deer, especially around dawn and between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., when they’re most active. Always be aware when you are driving. Do not use or your phone or other distractions while driving. Keep track of where you usually see animals along your route.
- Brake, don’t swerve. Swerving to avoid hitting an animal can put you and others at risk of a much more dangerous situation. Instead, just slow down firmly, but do not slam on your breaks.
- Where there’s one, there’s usually more. Again, remain alert. If you see one deer, chances are there are more right behind it. Drive slowly and maintain a safe speed.
- Make sure you’re wearing your seatbelt. A seat belt is your best defense for minimizing your risk in a crash. According to Consumer reports, an IIHS study found that most of the people killed in animal-vehicle collisions weren’t wearing their seat belts. Motorcycle riders account for more than half the fatalities, and among that group, nearly half the riders who died were not wearing helmets.
#DeerLeapsOverCar
Fall has arrived,🍁with that comes the infamous increase of 🦌crossings. Watch here as Tpr. Anderson encounters a small herd & uses quick braking to avoid contact.Reminder: If deer cross your path – apply controlled braking; steer straight; don’t swerve. pic.twitter.com/5NtQ6KBe5o
— MSP Fifth District (@MspSouthwestMI) September 22, 2022
