What's are some ways you AVOID a DEER on the highway?

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the tips on driving to NYC from Toronto, it really helped out. One thing that I wasn't really prepared for was how foggy the drive would be in the morning.

And after driving by MANY "Deer crossing" signs in fog where I couldn't see but 6 feet in front of me, I was wondering...

"so... a deer that jumps in front of my rental car would totally **** me right now."

So... what are some strategies, if I see the deer early enough; swirve, high beems, horn, brake hard?

http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffic...h-animals.html

If a deer hops out in 6' front of you, theres not much you can do but hang on and Thank God it isn't a moose.

I've seen animal scare whistles that say that they will protect, but then saw some on a smashed up car that had smoked a deer.

Good lights and watch the ditches with a bit of luck.

My advice is: Where there is one, there is often more. So if one runs out in front of you, slow down, even if it makes it by

Originally Posted by jed

If a deer hops out in 6' front of you, theres not much you can do but hang on and Thank God it isn't a moose.

This pretty much sums it up. If there's so much fog that you can't see 6' in front of you, you should probably get off the road until it clears up. You'd have to be going 15km/hr to be able to stop in that distance.

Brake like hell!

If you hit the deer its not your fault and your insurance won't go up... if you wind up in a ditch because of the deer its your fault.

Originally Posted by jed

If a deer hops out in 6' front of you, theres not much you can do but hang on and Thank God it isn't a moose.

I've seen animal scare whistles that say that they will protect, but then saw some on a smashed up car that had smoked a deer.

Good lights and watch the ditches with a bit of luck.

What he says, you can hit bambi and probably come out ok but i would avoid a moose at all costs. BTW here is a guy that hit a horse, not sure if it helps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCHLqit2K8

jam your brakes and scream "MAMA NOOOO".

Otherwise... Keep your eyes peeled and look ahead when driving. If its that foggy, avoid driving if your in deer country.

Otherwise... You'd have to have REALLY bad luck to get hit... Just hope you aren't one of them.

Buy one of these: http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/BMP1_A..._sale_page.htm

Originally Posted by urbanpoet

jam your brakes and scream "mama noooo".

lmao

Slow down in deer territory.

Deer are stupid and will run out in front of your vehicle. It doesn't matter how bright your lights are.

I was in a vehicle in the back seat while my buddy was driving. It was a clear night and we were going down a gravel road, maybe 60km/hr.

A deer came bolting right across the road in front of us. By the time anyone saw the deer it was about 6" from the front of the van. To make a long story short, we smoked the deer.

If a deer runs out in front of you in a situation like that there is nothing you can do. Try not to swerve your vehicle. You don't want to go into oncoming traffic nor do you want to go into a ditch.

Hit the brakes and pray that the deer and car aren't going to meet.

Originally Posted by UrbanPoet

jam your brakes and scream "MAMA NOOOO".

you forgot the "Stopping short" technique if you have a passenger

I can't remember where I've read this, and whether it was for deer or moose. If at the very last second you know you're going to hit the animal, try to avoid it when it hits the windshield by lying sideways fast. The dash area will shield you from it. Otherwise it could literally crush you as it goes through the windshield. This calls for very quick thinking.

I'd say best ting to do is to drive slowly specially under foggy conditions. I just hope there won't be an idiot tailgating you. If this is the case, pull over and let him take the lead.

I had a deer run in front of my car a few weeks ago. I was on a country road north of the GTA, maybe Davis drive, not sure. Anyways, it was going so fast as it whipped across the road in front of me, it was as if it had been running full out through the field and just came across the road. I don't think it would have been possible to go that fast from a standstill as if it had been stopped on the shoulder of the road. My point is I now understand how deers get hit. If I had been one or two seconds further along the road I would have hit it and there would have been nothing I could do.

My advice would be as others have said and slow down, but I also think you should NOT try to swerve for any animal smaller than a moose or cow as you are likely to go into the ditch and roll it and maybe kill yourself.

There's only a few things you can do:

-pay attention, watch for "eyes" or any kind of movement in the ditches.
-slow down.
-install better lights in your car. I don't mean a gimmick like Silverstars, I'm talking 6" 55w driving lights. Here's a pic of my fleet, the 2 vehicles on the left have had driving lights added.



Not very pretty but VERY effective. I aim them outwards slightly to help illuminate the shoulders and ditches. The come on automatically with the high beams.

Just a fun fact: the Yukon pictured above has a 55w HID kit in the high beams, a 35w HID kit in the driving lights and HIR bulbs in the low beams. When I flick on the high beams all 3 sets of lights come on and it's like turning on the mid day sun....lol! My brother is a railroad engineer and he said it has better night visibility than a locomotive!