Discussion
Thankfully it's something that's never happened to me, but it can't be a pleasant experience for all involved. I read an old article that there was to be a deer cull around the A9 up here in Scotland, purely to prevent serious accidents on that road.
Most people, if they haven't expeienced it, knows someone who has. The closest I've come is having to brake hard for one (NSL single carriageway at night), but I was wondering what makes deer so susceptible to being hit. Do they panic in the dazzle of the headlights and just freeze? It seems to me that if deer just ran across the road blindly and at random, it'd be a statistical longshot to share the same area of road as a car in that same fraction of a second.
I'd be pretty shaken up if I hit one at full NSL speeds - not to mention the serious accident risk, losing control, swerving, etc. Let's hear some of your stories of hitting deer.. what was it like, and how did it affect you?
Fortunately was only doing about 10mph when I clipped a deer. The daft git bounced off, fell over before getting up and legging it. No damage to either party.
What was most odd was it happened in a residential estate right next to the beach, not in open country!
If a deer does appear in front of you at higher speed and you have no chance of stopping, is it best to plough on into them or attempt to swerve potentially making things worse?
What was most odd was it happened in a residential estate right next to the beach, not in open country!
If a deer does appear in front of you at higher speed and you have no chance of stopping, is it best to plough on into them or attempt to swerve potentially making things worse?
Just saw this advice from Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Minnesota Department of Transportation said:
Although deer-vehicle collisions can cause extensive vehicle damage, most serious injuries and fatalities are caused by drivers taking evasive actions," said Kathy Swanson, director of Driver and Vehicle Services with the Department of Public Safety. "Drivers need to avoid swerving into oncoming traffic or leaving the road which can cause them to hit a tree or other object. It's safer to hit a deer than to risk hitting another vehicle or a fixed object such as a tree," she said. "Apply your brakes firmly, hold onto the steering wheel and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.
-crookedtail- said:
If a deer does appear in front of you at higher speed and you have no chance of stopping, is it best to plough on into them or attempt to swerve potentially making things worse?
Hah, I had made my second post without reading yours - but it makes it look like the fastest reply ever 
plough on into them it is!!I came round a bend on a NSL road in the dark once and was confronted by a large deer stood in my path, a car coming the other way meant I could not go around, I jumped on the brakes but couldnt stop, the front of my car was mullered and the bonnet was bent up into my view.
Engine still running, dashboard covered in warning lights but I still had drive and a headlight so I drove on and pulled into a pub up the road.
No idea where the deer went, was fur and blood on my car when I checked it in the daylight. Rad split, lights smashed, car basically written off. Bloody thing.
Engine still running, dashboard covered in warning lights but I still had drive and a headlight so I drove on and pulled into a pub up the road.
No idea where the deer went, was fur and blood on my car when I checked it in the daylight. Rad split, lights smashed, car basically written off. Bloody thing.
RobM77 said:
Does anyone know who you call if you've injured an animal and it needs medical attention? And no, I don't mean the local butcher! 
I called 999 and they put me through to the local shotgun chap.And remember: you cannot have venison for dinner, but the driver behind you can.
Matt UK said:
I called 999 and they put me through to the local shotgun chap.
And remember: you cannot have venison for dinner, but the driver behind you can.
This is why driving in convoy is always a good idea.And remember: you cannot have venison for dinner, but the driver behind you can.
Anyway, I hit a deer at a fair lick- must have been at least 50. Mind you, it was one of those little Muntjac things so not much bigger than a large dog. Only damage was a broken foglight and a bit of a crease in the bonnet above the headlight. Took a while to clean all the blood and gunk off it though.
Matt UK said:
I called 999 and they put me through to the local shotgun chap.
And remember: you cannot have venison for dinner, but the driver behind you can.
I called the local non-emergency Plod number and they said "um,err, we'd better come out so we can take a look"And remember: you cannot have venison for dinner, but the driver behind you can.
..with the baby deer just flapping around on the road with a broken back.
And it was Grampian Police! You'd think they get loads of it.
I've had a few close run ins with the daft b
ds within 3 or 4 miles north of Glasgow city centre! And if you see one jump out, there's generally another right behind it. So if one jumps out on you, don't just brake to miss that one.
I spend a lot of time in Argyll, last year we had to stop late at night on a single track road for a huge stag stood at the edge of the road, he was watching over two young fawns as they had a munch. Was an awesome sight
Also seen a flat-bed truck pull over on the A82 Lomondside and the passenger get out and sling a dead one onto the back. As we drove past there was at least 5 carcasses on it, so I don't think they are going to waste
ds within 3 or 4 miles north of Glasgow city centre! And if you see one jump out, there's generally another right behind it. So if one jumps out on you, don't just brake to miss that one.I spend a lot of time in Argyll, last year we had to stop late at night on a single track road for a huge stag stood at the edge of the road, he was watching over two young fawns as they had a munch. Was an awesome sight
Also seen a flat-bed truck pull over on the A82 Lomondside and the passenger get out and sling a dead one onto the back. As we drove past there was at least 5 carcasses on it, so I don't think they are going to waste
True story...
I worked in aftersales in a Vauxhall dealership a few years back and on this day, one rather pompous chap had brought his prized Astra in for its 3rd service and MOT. When the time came that this chap came back, it coincided that the technician was just leaving for it's roadtest. The chap sat at my desk, back towards the access road/carpark so I was in effect looking over his shoulder and could see all that was going on.
Anyways, as he spends five minutes boring me with tales of how he adores the car and it's never ever sees rain (it's a bloody Astra!) and how he'll never part with it, said Astra returns from the roadtest minus the front bumper, bonnet creased and no drivers side headlight. By this stage, I can see it all but the owner is non the wiser. I hastily make my excuses and head for the workshop to learn that the technician managed to collect a fair sized deer at 50mph, but he helpfully pointed out he'd had some spare latex gloves in his pocket so had tried to remove the majority of the brain matter and st.
An interesting conversation followed with the owner.
I worked in aftersales in a Vauxhall dealership a few years back and on this day, one rather pompous chap had brought his prized Astra in for its 3rd service and MOT. When the time came that this chap came back, it coincided that the technician was just leaving for it's roadtest. The chap sat at my desk, back towards the access road/carpark so I was in effect looking over his shoulder and could see all that was going on.
Anyways, as he spends five minutes boring me with tales of how he adores the car and it's never ever sees rain (it's a bloody Astra!) and how he'll never part with it, said Astra returns from the roadtest minus the front bumper, bonnet creased and no drivers side headlight. By this stage, I can see it all but the owner is non the wiser. I hastily make my excuses and head for the workshop to learn that the technician managed to collect a fair sized deer at 50mph, but he helpfully pointed out he'd had some spare latex gloves in his pocket so had tried to remove the majority of the brain matter and s
t. An interesting conversation followed with the owner.
Davie said:
True story...
I worked in aftersales in a Vauxhall dealership a few years back and on this day, one rather pompous chap had brought his prized Astra in for its 3rd service and MOT. When the time came that this chap came back, it coincided that the technician was just leaving for it's roadtest. The chap sat at my desk, back towards the access road/carpark so I was in effect looking over his shoulder and could see all that was going on.
Anyways, as he spends five minutes boring me with tales of how he adores the car and it's never ever sees rain (it's a bloody Astra!) and how he'll never part with it, said Astra returns from the roadtest minus the front bumper, bonnet creased and no drivers side headlight. By this stage, I can see it all but the owner is non the wiser. I hastily make my excuses and head for the workshop to learn that the technician managed to collect a fair sized deer at 50mph, but he helpfully pointed out he'd had some spare latex gloves in his pocket so had tried to remove the majority of the brain matter and st.
An interesting conversation followed with the owner.
Went a bit something like this I imagineI worked in aftersales in a Vauxhall dealership a few years back and on this day, one rather pompous chap had brought his prized Astra in for its 3rd service and MOT. When the time came that this chap came back, it coincided that the technician was just leaving for it's roadtest. The chap sat at my desk, back towards the access road/carpark so I was in effect looking over his shoulder and could see all that was going on.
Anyways, as he spends five minutes boring me with tales of how he adores the car and it's never ever sees rain (it's a bloody Astra!) and how he'll never part with it, said Astra returns from the roadtest minus the front bumper, bonnet creased and no drivers side headlight. By this stage, I can see it all but the owner is non the wiser. I hastily make my excuses and head for the workshop to learn that the technician managed to collect a fair sized deer at 50mph, but he helpfully pointed out he'd had some spare latex gloves in his pocket so had tried to remove the majority of the brain matter and s
t. An interesting conversation followed with the owner.
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