Top 10 Illinois Counties For Deer Collisions
Kane County did NOT make the top 10 Illinois counties for deer accidents this year, as it has in the past.
That said, it’s mating season, and the chances are as high as they’ll be all year that your vehicle will hit a deer.
This year, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are telling drivers: “Don’t Veer For The Deer.”
The danger is highest at dusk and dawn.
Here are the top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2016:
- Cook — 439
- Madison —415
- Will —389
- Sangamon —344
- Fulton — 328
- Peoria — 311
- Williamson — 287
- Rock Island — 278
- (tie) Bureau, Pike, Lake — 277
- Jackson — 273
In 2014, Kane County ranked eighth in the state in deer crashes, with 318. Numbers for 2016 were not available.
“Deer can dart in front of a vehicle in the blink of an eye,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “It’s instinctual to swerve out of the way, but in doing so, drivers could lose control of the vehicle and cause a more severe crash. If you’re attentive and watchful for deer encounters, these safety tips could make all the difference.”
- Motorists are urged to follow these safe driving tips during mating season:
- Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to deer crossing signs.
- Scan the sides of the road for eye shine – the reflection of headlights in the eyes.
- Slow down if you see deer. They travel in groups, so more are likely in the area.
- Prepare for the unexpected. Deer can stop in the middle of the road or double back.
- If a collision is inevitable, try to glance the vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic.
More safe driving tips can be viewed by clicking here.
Approximately 40 to 45 percent of crashes in Illinois involving deer in 2016 occurred in October, November, and December – with November being the highest-risk month. Seventy-five percent of all motor vehicle crashes involving deer happened in rural environments, with more than 70 percent of all crashes taking place at twilight or nighttime.
In 2016, there were 14,759 motor vehicle crashes involving deer in Illinois, about 1,000 crashes less than the 2015 total. There were 14,248 crashes that resulted in damage to property or vehicles only, down from the 15,431 in 2015. Personal injuries tallied 581 in 2016 versus 628 in 2015 and 569 in 2014.
The number of fatalities dropped, from eight in 2015 to five in 2016.
“Deer-vehicle accidents can occur any time of year, but deer are especially active in the fall during their mating season,” said Wayne Rosenthal, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “Motorists should be on the alert for deer near roadways during early morning and evening hours, especially near wooded areas, field edges and waterways.”
What To Do If You Hit a Deer
If you do hit a deer, pull off to the shoulder and turn on the hazard lights. Call 911 to report the accident so the appropriate law enforcement can assist.
Do not get out of the vehicle to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road.
You can visit the IDNR website for information on how to claim a deer that has been involved in a crash.
SOURCE: IDOT news release
