This time of year it is more crucial than ever to use caution when traveling on rural roads.

With the end of Daylight Saving Time, many of us are still adjusting our sleep habits and getting used to driving home from work in the dark. This can slow reaction time.

Add to that the seasonal increase in deer-vehicle collisions with more deer on the move because of hunting and the approach of mating season.

The situation is compounded by delays in the fall harvest caused by poor weather recently and late planting last spring. This means farmers are under pressure to get their crops in, with many working longer hours into the evening to catch up.

Fatigued farmers could be slower to notice other traffic when traveling on or crossing roadways. It's important to stay alert.

Non-farmers often do not recognize the dangers of slow-moving vehicles soon enough.

It only takes five seconds for a car traveling 55 mph approaching farm equipment traveling 15 mph to reduce the distance between them by the length of a football field, according to the National Ag Safety Database.

A lot of cars are going more than 55 mph in rural areas. Consider how quickly you can stop if you crest a hill and suddenly see a piece of farm machinery pulling on to the road or moving slowly in front of you.

Rear-end collisions and left-turn collisions are the two most common accidents involving farm equipment and other motor vehicles.

Farmers: Watch out for other vehicles - especially where the view may be limited or obscured - and use proper signals.

Other motorists: Be alert, allow plenty of time to slow or stop and try to anticipate where farm vehicles may turn. Look for driveways or entrances into fields. Remember, if a farm vehicle pulls to the right side of the road, they may be preparing for a wide left turn - not pulling over to let you pass.

The late harvest also could increase the risk for deer-vehicle collision. You might not see deer as quickly if they are emerging from a cornfield that hasn't been harvested. And harvest activity may cause more deer to be moving.

Based on claims data, State Farm Insurance estimates that 42,844 vehicle-deer collisions occurred in Illinois between July 1, 2008 and June 30.

More than 150 people die each year as a result of such accidents in the United States, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports.

Safety officials advise against swerving to avoid a deer because it could cause you to lose control or go into the path of another vehicle. Instead, drive cautiously, take note of deer crossing signs, remember deer rarely travel aone and, if a collision seems unavoidable, hit the brakes rather than swerve.