What is the safest thing to do if a deer crosses in front of your vehicle?

expatturk

I too have lived in the rural, deer-leaping, areas. My niece's car recently "made contact" with a springing deer -- the deer won. Niece's car required over $3000 worth of repair. Niece is okay except for bruises from the steering wheel. (Always wear a seat belt.)
Honking makes no difference whatsoever-- it just wastes time. If you have a split second's warning -- veer to the left. Veering to the right can land you in a ditch or roadside tree. Pump your brakes if you have time. Slamming on the brake can spin your vehicle.
A head-on -- as mentioned by another responder can result in a very heavy animal hitting your windshield. But many of the above responses are sound.
If you have an accident with a deer, -- and if you have a cell phone, call the police so that they can verify the accident for your insurance and have the deer removed from the highway.

Hillaryforpresident

On the radio the other day they were saying to hit the brakes and brace yourself, to not try to avoid the deer by swerving. I guess it really wouldn't matter if you swerved or not, you don't know what the deer might do. You have about the same chance of hitting it whether you swerve or continue straight on. But if you swerve you could also go off the road or hit another vehicle. In theory, I guess the head on advice is sound, but how many people would really not instinctually swerve away?

JimsShip

Deer can cause a great deal of damage to your car when struck, almost as much as if you hit aother car.
All of the things you mentioned are good.
You may want to invest in some deer whistles for the front bumper of your car (they say they work, but who really knows!)
One tip though, if you see a deer standing or crossing by the road, keep your eyes peeled, because they travel in groups and chances are there's going to be another one running right behind it!

WhoKnows?1995

Slowing down and being alert is always the best plan in any situation. In general, a deer will not kill you, but will do damage to your car. I hit one in a Ford Focus a few years ago, making the car undrivable and it was totaled by the insurance.

On the other hand, an elk or moose can kill you or your passengers if it comes through the windshield.

I drive 50 or 70 miles to work each way, on country roads 4 days a week. It is dark when I go to work and dark when I leave work. I see deer twice a week all year. It is better to take fifteen minutes longer to get to work than to always drive on the edge of disaster. Other drivers will pass if they want. If you go slower, you can be ready to react and you will be less stressed. You will save some gas too.

So slow down and try to be ready to stop. I'd be inclined to stop in a straight line rather than swerving. There will always be more deer to replace the one you hit. If you swerve, you may still hit the deer and you may hit another car, or a tree or the ditch.

Zexyana

Slow down and prepare to stop.

Robert

Do not panic, it takes away your reaction time, the deer usually freezes, so it's pretty easy to dodge. I live in a town in west central alberta, and we have more deer, elk, moose, caribou than you can shake a stick at. They are even all over in town, all the time, and the highway is worse, I've had many close calls, but if you are not an edgy person, and don't panic easily, you shouldn't have a problem, my girlfriend on the other hand, will freeze up worse than the deer she is about to hit. Hence, I do all the driving. Practice some evasion techniques on a private road, or an old airstrip, so that you know how your vehicle will respond, and so you can hone your skills, it is important to make sure you don't over correct, if you miss the deer, you might not miss the ditch.

bfs_172

Hit the deer! Your chances of survival are greater that way then veering off the road and winding up rolling over in a ditch or hitting another car head on. Btter to wind up with a smashed front end than dead.

bluff mike

My experience is that once a deer starts to cross, its going to cross, even if he balks, a little. Motorcyclists are told to brake as heavily as possible, without skidding, in a straight line. That way you lessen the risk of losing control of the vehicle from swerving, and if you do hit the animal, you will be moving slowly.

Robert t

stop.

Matthew H

Hit the brakes brace for possible impact and hope for the best- generally dear run out in front of your car at a moment's notice.

xlhdrider

Slowly stop your car get out and confront the deer . Tell him or her that you would appreciate it if the would find a different route. If they don`t like that then tell them next time you will run them over

Psycho Steve

Mount a heat seeking missile on the roof of your car and set it to "deer" mode, thus removing the obstacle from your path.

Happy driving.

gin and juice

rev your motor real high and put it in reverse immediately.........then get a box and pick up your transmission

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