Key points
Leaving the scene of a crash is against the law and punishable by fines, jail or both.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“If you are involved in a crash, do not drive away. Leaving the scene of a crash is against the law and punishable by fines, jail time or both.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65If no one is seriously hurt and the vehicle can be driven safely, move it off the main roadway.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“Vehicles involved in crashes that do not result in serious injury or death shall be moved from the main roadway by the driver or a passenger with a valid driver’s license”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65Notify police if there are injuries or property damage over $1,000.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“Notify the police if there are injuries or property damage exceeding $1,000.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65About 60,000 vehicle deer crashes happen in Michigan each year.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“About 60,000 vehicle-deer crashes happen in Michigan each year and officials suspect that as many as half are unreported.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65If you see one deer, slow down; deer often travel in groups.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“Slow down if you see one deer. Deer frequently travel in groups.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65If a deer crash is unavoidable, do not veer; brake firmly, hold the wheel with both hands and come to a controlled stop.
Source: Handbook p. 65
“Do not veer for deer; stay in your lane. • Brake firmly. • Hold onto the steering wheel with both hands. • Come to a controlled stop.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 65If a vehicle is in your lane coming at you, look for an escape to the right, not the left.
Source: Handbook p. 62
“Look for an escape route on the right edge of the road. • Try not to go to the left”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 62If your car becomes disabled, pull as far off the road as possible, turn on flashers and stay inside buckled up.
Source: Handbook p. 67
“Pull as far off the traveled portion of the roadway as possible. Activate your four-way emergency lights and stay inside your vehicle with your seat belt securely fastened.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 67About 10 percent of pedestrian crash deaths from 2014 to 2018 involved a roadside emergency.
Source: Handbook p. 64
“During the five-year period from 2014 to 2018, about 10 percent of all pedestrian-related traffic crash fatalities involved a roadside emergency.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 64If pulled over, stay in the car with your seat belt on and keep both hands in plain sight on the wheel.
Source: Handbook p. 67
“Stay in your car with your seat belt on. Turn on the interior lights if it is dusk or dark outside. Open your window. Keep both hands empty and in plain sight on the steering wheel.”
What Every Driver Must Know, Handbook p. 67
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | property damage above which you notify police | Handbook p. 65 |
| 60,000 | vehicle deer crashes each year in Michigan | Handbook p. 65 |
| $2,100 | average damage in a deer crash | Handbook p. 65 |
| 10 percent, 2014 to 2018 | share of pedestrian deaths involving a roadside emergency | Handbook p. 64 |
Recognize these signs
Deer crossing
3 questions from the Michigan practice test
1. If fog becomes so thick that a Michigan driver cannot see at all, what is the safest response?
- Continue at the posted speed with high beams on
- Stop in the travel lane and turn off all lights
- Pull off the road, turn on four-way flashers, and wait
- Follow the vehicle ahead more closely for guidance
Show answer
Pull off the road, turn on four-way flashers, and wait. When visibility disappears in dense fog, the driver should leave the traveled portion of the roadway, activate the four-way emergency flashers, and wait for conditions to improve. Continuing at the posted speed assumes the posted limit is safe for the available sight distance, which it is not. High beams can worsen glare, and stopping in a live lane leaves the vehicle exposed to traffic that may not see it. Following another vehicle closely removes the space needed to react. The useful cue is a complete loss of forward visibility: get fully off the road, make the vehicle conspicuous, and wait rather than guessing at the lane path.
2. A deer suddenly enters your lane and a collision cannot be avoided. What should you do?
- Swerve sharply into the opposite lane
- Brake firmly and keep the vehicle in your lane
- Accelerate so the deer clears the roadway first
- Release the steering wheel before impact
Show answer
Brake firmly and keep the vehicle in your lane. When impact with a deer is unavoidable, the manual advises staying in your lane, braking firmly, holding the steering wheel with both hands, and coming to a controlled stop. A sharp swerve can send the vehicle into opposing traffic, a ditch, or another obstacle and may be more dangerous than the animal. Acceleration gives the driver less time and distance to reduce the impact. The cue to remember is do not veer for deer: maintain control, slow decisively, and stop safely off the roadway when possible.
3. If your vehicle becomes disabled on the roadway, what should you do?
- Pull as far off the traveled portion as possible, activate four-way flashers, and stay belted
- Stand beside the vehicle to direct traffic yourself
- Walk along the freeway to find assistance
- Leave the vehicle in the travel lane with the engine running
Show answer
Pull as far off the traveled portion as possible, activate four-way flashers, and stay belted. For a disabled vehicle, Michigan advises pulling as far off the traveled portion as possible, activating the four-way emergency lights, and staying inside with the seat belt securely fastened. The goal is to separate occupants from moving traffic while making the vehicle visible. Leaving the car in a travel lane increases collision risk. Standing beside it places a person close to passing vehicles, and walking on a freeway is dangerous and illegal. If leaving becomes unavoidable, move directly to a safe location far from the traveled portion and obtain professional help.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free Michigan practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the What Every Driver Must Know, Chapter 7: Emergencies and Special Situations. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.