October and November are months when Illinois motorists are most likely to encounter deer crossing the highway. The Illinois Department of Transportation reminds everyone to avoid the urge to swerve during such an encounter.
Dawn and dusk are the most common times that deer are active. A spokesman for IDOT said the natural instinct to steer quickly out of the way could cause the driver to lose control and swerve into another lane or off the road.
Also, a deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back. They frequently travel in groups so others are likely to be nearby.
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 and anticipate others could be following.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road and not move for oncoming vehicles.
• If a collision is inevitable, don’t veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.
Deer can often appear suddenly in some surprising environments, so be on alert, slow down and pay attention in areas where they are known to travel.
The top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2022:
1. Cook 542
2. Madison 396
3. McHenry 351
4. Lake 350
5. Will 344
6. Peoria 323
7. Fulton 313
8. Kane 286
9. Sangamon 282
10. Macoupin 271
In 2022, there were 14,524 crashes involving deer in Illinois with 629 injuries and four deaths.
