Steer
clear: Deer mating season is here
IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to stay alert,
slow down, don’t veer for deer
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[October 08, 2021]
As the days get shorter, the
temperatures drop and the leaves change color and fall, the Illinois
Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural
Resources are reminding motorists that autumn is accompanied by deer
mating season in Illinois. During this time of year, deer become
especially active, mainly at dawn and dusk from October through
December.
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“Although a collision with a deer can happen any
time of year, we are entering the peak season,” said Illinois
Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Deer can often appear
suddenly in some surprising environments so you are urged to be
on alert. Slow down, pay attention in areas where they are known
to travel and remember – don’t veer for deer. While the urge to
swerve is instinctual, it could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and increase the severity of a crash.”
Safe driving tips for deer mating season:
• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer
crossing signs.
• Scan the sides of the road for eye shine – the reflection of
headlights in their eyes.
• Slow down if you see a deer. They travel in groups, so more
are likely nearby.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the
road or double back.
• If a collision is inevitable, try to glance your vehicle off
the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic.
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In 2020, 13,787 motor vehicle crashes involved deer in Illinois.
Of these, 13,166 resulted in damage to property or vehicles,
while 611 caused personal injuries. Ten of the crashes resulted
in fatalities.
More than 43% of crashes involving deer in Illinois occurred in
October, November and December, with November being the
highest-risk month. Rural environments were the site of more
than 62% of all motor vehicle crashes involving deer, with more
72% occurring at twilight or nighttime.
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The top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving
deer in 2020:
1. Cook 469
2. Madison 375
3. Will 322
4. Sangamon 308
5. Peoria 306
6. Kane 275
7. McHenry 271
8. Fulton 268
9. Lake 250
10. Williamson 249
“Whether in rural or urban areas, deer are part of the Illinois
landscape and we need to be alert to their presence,” said Illinois
Department of Natural Resources Director Colleen Callahan. “Please
be cautious while on the road as deer are particularly active during
the mating season in the fall and during busy driving times around
dawn and dusk.”
If you hit a deer, pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard
lights and call 911 to report the accident. Do not exit the vehicle
to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road.
For information on how to claim a deer involved in a crash, or to
report possession of a deer killed in a deer-vehicle crash, click
here or visit the IDNR website.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
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