It's likely you or someone you know have struck a deer. While it seems as though they are always wandering into the road, the actual number of deer-vehicle accidents was down last year.
State Farm Insurance has already predicted another decline based on claims filed. The company attributes the expected decline in accidents to a smaller deer population and increased driver awareness. It says Illinois drivers have less chance of hitting a deer than the national average.
In Sangamon County last year, there were 335 accidents, 75 fewer than the year before.
Still, that was enough to place the county sixth in the state. Pike County also made the top ten, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Wildlife officials say the best way to avoid an accident is to be cautious, especially at dusk and dawn, when deer are most active.
