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Deer Collisions

D'OH! A deer.
Take precautions to stay safe during deer collision season

Whether you're driving on vacation, going to visit your child at college, or just enjoying an autumn drive, keep an eye out for deer.

Each year there are an estimated 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions nationwide according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This results in property damage, injuries and even death. But if you take precautions, you can reduce your risk.

  • Watch the time of day and the time of year:
    • Most vehicle collisions with deer occur in the months of October, November, and December, especially during hunting season.
    • The highest-risk hours are shortly before and after sunrise and between sunset and midnight.
  • Be cautious:
    • Stay alert, awake and sober, and, of course, always wear your seatbelt.
    • Drive at a safe, legal speed and slow down for adverse for conditions.
    • Increase the distance between the vehicle in front of you and yourself, especially in wooded areas.
    • Watch for deer, especially when driving during peak collision times.
    • Be extra cautious in areas where deer commonly cross roads and where roads divide fields from forests.
    • When driving at night, put on your high-beam headlights when there is no opposing traffic. This will help illuminate deer eyes if they are in or near the road ahead of you.
  • When deer are near:
    • Blow your horn and slow down to encourage the deer to leave the road - don't rely on devices such as deer fences, deer whistles, and reflectors to deter deer.
    • If the deer refuses to leave the road, pull over to the right, stop, put on your hazard lights, and wait for the deer to leave the roadway.
    • Don't try to drive around a deer while it's still on the road.
    • Don't ever swerve your vehicle to avoid hitting a deer - if a collision is imminent, hit it while maintaining full control of your vehicle.
  • If a crash happens:
    • Keep your distance to avoid injuries.
    • Watch for other deer because they usually travel single-file in groups.
    • If the deer is blocking the roadway, contact a local law enforcement agency or the Game Commission.

If you do hit a deer, report your claim as soon as possible. Contact our office, and we'll help you.

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People to People Insurance Services Inc. - 1240 Iroquois, Naperville, IL, DuPage County - Serving Chicagoland (630) 355-2355
  

Naperville Illinois personal and commercial independent insurance agents, PTP Insurance Agency, serves clients throughout the metropolitan Chicagoland area which includes Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County and Will County; including, but not limited to, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Aurora, Batavia, Barrington, Berwyn, Bedford Park, Bloomingdale, Brookfield, Burbank, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elmhurst Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hickory Hills, Hoffman Estates, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Lyons, Mokena, Montgomery, Oak Brook, Oswego, Romeoville, St Charles, Schaumburg, Shorewood, Sycamore, Warrenville,West Chicago, Westmont, Woodridge and Yorkville.