Deer mating season is here and the Illinois Department of Transportation is urging motorists to be careful and stay alert
The season typically runs October through December, so I-DOT spokesperson Maria Castaneda says drivers need to be especially cautious.
“If you see one deer there’s probably other deer nearby they tend to travel and you know more than just one and you really notice them more between that dusk and dawn time period.”
Castaneda also warns to prepare for the unexpected as deer sometimes stop in the middle of the road or double back. Castaneda says you should pay special attention during dusk and dawn.
Last year in Illinois, there were nearly 14-thousand deer-vehicle crashes, resulting in 611 personal injuries and ten deaths.
State officials report 113 crashes in Marion County last year. There were four injuries and no fatalities. Clay County was the only area county with a fatality. There was one death in 122 crashes along with four injuries. Jefferson County had the highest number of crashes in South Central Illinois with 172. There were 12 injuries and no fatalities. Clinton County had 111 crashes and four injuries. Washington County had 118 crashes and 11 injuries. Wayne County had 116 crashes and four injuries. Fayette County had 143 accidents with four injuries. Ironically, Cook County, which includes Chicago, had the most vehicle-deer crashes.
