According to the 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.
In case of a deer-vehicle accident:
- Turn on emergency flasher lights and pull the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road.
- Stay in the vehicle.
- Help injured passengers.
- Report the accident by calling 630-252-1911 (if the accident happens on campus), or 9-1-1.