Daily Dirt: Don’t veer for those deer when they’re near

Daily Dirt for Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

I once hit a deer in a car I was driving. The deer won … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 431 of The Daily Dirt.

1. The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding us this is a dangerous time of year for all motorists because deer mating season has arrived. That means deer become more active, mainly at dawn and dusk, from October through December.

“Deer often travel in groups, so if a deer crosses the road ahead of you, there is a good possibility that another will follow,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said in a press release. “Always be prepared for the unexpected. A deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back.

“Don’t veer for deer. It could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and swerve into another lane or off the road.”

There were a whopping 14,522 motor vehicle crashes involving deer in Illinois in 2021. Of these, 13,936 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, while 584 caused personal injuries. Two of the crashes resulted in fatalities.

Although a collision with a deer can happen any time, “we are entering the peak season for crashes with them,” according to information supplied by IDOT. Rural environments were the site of more than 72 percent of all motor vehicle crashes involving deer, with more than 71 percent occurring at twilight or nighttime.

Use these driving tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer crossing signs.
• Scan the sides of the road for eye shine – the reflection of headlights in their eyes.
• Slow down if you see a deer. They travel in groups, so more are likely nearby.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road.
• If a collision is inevitable, don’t veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.

Here are the top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2021 (surprisingly, Adams County is not on the list):

• 1. Cook          493
• 2. Madison     452
• 3. Will             326
• 4. Sangamon 321
• 5. Peoria        311
• 6. Kane          299
• 7. Effingham  294
• 8. Fulton        289
• 9. McHenry    264
• 10. Jefferson  256

2. The best of this week’s “Found on Facebook”:

• “When you teach a wolf to meditate, he becomes aware wolf.”
• “Egyptian babies didn’t know that day their daddy will become mummy. Neither did the Kardashians.”
• “I’ve just invented a telepathically controlled air freshener. Makes scents when you think about it.”
• “Welcome back to Plastic Surgery anonymous. Nice to see so many new faces here today.”
• “Diarrhea is hereditary. It runs in your jeans.”

3. The Daily Dirt wishes these folks happy birthday:

• Popular “Wheel of Fortune” game-show host Pat Sajak will be 76 on Wednesday.
• Former first lady Hillary Clinton turns 75, also on Wednesday.
• Actress Julia Roberts will be 55 on Friday.
• Friday is also birthday day for country singer Brad Paisley, who will turn 48.
• Henry Winkler will be 75 on Oct. 30. He was “Fonzie” on “Happy Days.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day
If you’ve been watching any of the early season NBA games, you’ve probably noticed the “6” on all of the courts, plus all of the teams’ uniforms. If you missed the various tributes, the “6” is honor of the late great Bill Russell, who died July 31 at age 88. The Boston Celtics Hall of Famer was not only an outstanding player and coach, but also a popular ABC analyst for NBA games.

In addition, Russell was one of the most-respected voices when it came to a variety of social conflicts. Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. Russell was one of my first favorite NBA players, if for no other reason than how he carried himself with such class and dignity. We could all learn from the legacy he left behind.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. We always thought Steve liked No. 6 because it resembled his own body shape.