It's the fall mating season or rut and deer are on the move this time of year. That raises the chances for more deer vehicle crashes.
DOT safety expert Laura Andreasson says if you see one deer by the road there are usually more traveling with it. Motorists need to slow down and keep an eye out for deer especially in areas that are marked as deer crossings. And as always, wear a seatbelt.
If a deer heads for the road, lay on your horn but don't swerve. It's safer, they say, to hit the deer than go out of control and hit a tree or roll over.
But DOT motorcycle safety expert Ron Thompson says it's different for bikers. They should brake first and then try to swerve. The key is don't do it at the same time. That will cause a crash.
There were nearly eighteen-thousand vehicle-deer crashes in the state last year and many with minor property damage are never reported.
Dane County had the most. Waupaca and Shawano County were next. Five of the seven fatal crashes statewide involved motorcycles.
