The week of thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year. Students are returning home from college, deer hunters are heading to camp, and black Friday shopping keeps the roads busy.

Since this weekend will kick off rifle deer season, Fritzi Schreffler, Safety Press Officer with District 8 Penndot suggests paying close attention to the roads and deer.

“It is also mating season for the deer. So, they are off in search of love and not paying attention to what the drivers are doing, obviously. So, if you're in an area that is heavily populated by deer, you definitely want to be on the lookout in case they're running out, “said Schreffler.

Lt. Adam Reed, Director of the Communications Office for the Pennsylvania State Police, says during this time of year drivers get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

“They get caught up in the rush to go see family for Thanksgiving or the shopping crush prior to Christmas. People get busy, and it's important that people take a step back and realize that their safety is the most important and the gifts could weigh the travel if it takes an extra few minutes to get to your destination. So be it. Take an extra minute, take a deep breath, and get where you're going safely, “said Reed.

Reed says one of the biggest causes of crashes he sees is speeding.

“Two of the biggest causes of crashes that we see, number one is speeding. And number two is follow too closely, especially when a driver is doing both of those things at once. It's a recipe for disaster, really. So even things that that might seem mundane, like don't speed, don't follow the car in front of you too closely. Going back to the last topic there, it's easy to forget about. It's easy to have that get lost in the in the rush of the holiday season. So slow down and leave some distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you, “said Reed.

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