MILWAUKEE — As Wisconsin gears up for what’s traditionally the most dangerous time of the year on state roads with deer-related crashes, safety experts agree on the best course of action if a deer were to ever jump in your vehicle’s path.

“Slow down as quickly as you can,” said David Pabst, the Department of Transportation’s Safety Director. “You have to put on those brakes because the more speed you can scrub off, the better it is for you to potentially miss the dear. Do not swerve — swerving can lead to a more serious rollover crash, so it’s best to just apply your brakes firmly, and if you see one deer, be ready for more because they go out there in groups.”

Preliminary data from the Department of Transportation shows Wisconsin had over 16,000 deer-related crashes in 2021 and 2022, and preliminary data shows there have already been more than 11,000 this year before the traditional November spike statewide.

“The worst times are in the morning when the sun is rising,” Pabst said, “and in the evening when the deer are trying to feed and what not — of course right now with deer hunting coming up and the deer are in a rut, they are much more active so you can see a lot more deer and that’s why we have so many more crashes this time of year.”

Watch the full interview above.