‘100 Deadliest Days’ are over, but harvest time poses more risks on Nebraska roads

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The “100 Deadliest Days of the Summer” may be over, but emergency responders across the Midwest are warning drivers against letting their guard down.

During those 100 days, the Nebraska State Patrol said it made nearly 400 DUI arrests and wrote more than 350 citations for speeding over 100 mph.

Bill Kovarik, administrator of the Nebraska Highway Safety Office, said 60 people were killed in crashes during that time, which is down from previous years.

“We’re glad to see the numbers have stayed down there, but that’s still way too many fatalities considering that most crashes are preventable.”

And as fall approaches, Kovarik and other officials are warning drivers to be aware of the corn getting high enough to block your view of the roads.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said people who aren’t used to driving on county roads often speed down them without looking.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said right around harvest time, deer tend to move around and may be crossing roads more frequently.

“Make sure your head’s on a swivel,” he said. “Keep looking and don’t get distracted. They can come out of the tall corn and be on top of you before you even know they’re there.”

Houchin and Kovarik also said you should be watching for farm equipment that may stray onto the road.

“There can be farm implement or different equipment moving slowly along the road getting from one field to another,” Kovarik said. “Everybody just needs to pay attention to their driving and not anything else in their car. If you’re driving, you need to drive.”

To keep everyone safe, experts say you should never assume the road is clear.  So slow down or come to a complete stop if you can’t see around turns.