According to the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources, most deer-vehicle accidents happen during the months of October, November and December — deer hunting and mating season. Another peak time for accidents is in May and June as one-year old deer move to new areas. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, so drivers should remain particularly vigilant at those times.
Stay safe
- Protect yourself. Wear your seatbelt and obey speed limit signs.
- Stay alert. Pay attention to deer crossing signs and be cautious in areas near woods or water.
- Use high beams. When on a dark road, use your vehicle’s bright lights to illuminate the roadway. Flashing your bright lights on a deer in the road may cause the animal to run away.
- Don’t swerve. If a deer-car crash is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don’t veer off the road.
Additional information on how to avoid an accident with a deer and how to report an accident that happens is available in this safety share, courtesy of Katherine Obmascik (BIS). Please print this information and use it to help kick off a team discussion at your next meeting with colleagues and/or staff.
All employees are encouraged to submit safety shares for inclusion in the Safety Share Library, available on Box. Submission details are available on Inside Argonne.
Each month a safety share submitted by an individual will be selected to receive a Spot Award for demonstrated safety leadership. The Spot Award program offers three award levels: gold ($100), silver ($50) and bronze ($25).