Deer in the Road

[hkckk5]

I am so glad this has never happened to me. I don't think there are any deer in the area in which I live. That would really make me sad to hit a deer.

[haimsterette]

Just today my mom was telling me how she had seen three deceased deer in one area on the road. It breaks my heart. People are always ruining the way wildlife live, it makes me sick. I am glad I don't drive and have no plans to. I would be beside myself if I accidentally hit anyone. 

[singletonb]

I try to drive as slowly as possible in areas where they are always running across the road

[lhz123]

Going to work early morning also have see many deers on the street .

[oldbuddy]

When man takes over their habitat, what would you expect? It's common to find them in our yard and garden, so encountering them on the roads should be no surprise. My wife has hit several in the 50 years we have lived in Oregon and I even hit one at 80 miles an hour on an Illinois freeway. The highway patrol told us it was common during rutting season.

How much damage did you do to your car when you hit one going 80? I hit one when I slammed on my breaks (maybe doing 35) and was almost stopped when I hit him and it still smashed in my grill and I pulled deer hair out of the car for weeks. The deer just looked at me and bounded away.

It was a rental car, so I just turned it back in and didn't see a quote, but I am sure it was several thousand. I assure you this deer did not bound far, although he did leave the scene somehow.

[kimber62372]

It's mating season for the deer, especially by me. The month of October is horrible with all the dead deer I see on the side of the road and gun shots being fired.

[appy9104]

You will usually find them on the move around dawn and dusk,  but anytime if they get flushed by dogs or scared by people etc

[alina6]

Three years ago my wife's new car was totaled because a deer ran into it. Ruined the steering, trashed the fender,/bumper and hood, through the alignment out-but the deer walked away. I took all kinds of defensive driving courses as part of some weekend stints as a stock car and demolition driver. One of the key points brought up was to continue driving through crashes/animals at the same speed. Veering one way or another would statistically have you rolling your vehicle, locking up your brakes could have a similar affect or have you run the risk of getting rear ended, and slowing down increased the chance of your strike causing the stricken object to fly in to your windshield. Two years ago I came across a herd of deer in an old jeep and ended up killing one. I lived.

I heard that avoiding them is the worst thing to do because of the possibility of rolling the car. Where were you a stock car driver?

[alina6]

Update: this morning I came upon police cars in the middle of the road blocking traffic. One of the police officers was "removing" a deer which had just been hit. The car who hit him was on the side of the road with the front end bashed in.

[clickers]

Aw. Yes look for our dear deer in the head light. If only they had sensors for on comings cars.

[plennis]

Having lived in an area where deer and elk are every where, you just have to drive a little slower and be extra careful.  But slaming ont he brakes and swerving are instincts you should not swerve, change speed or slam on the brakes, just drive straight through and pray for the best.

[Yukichan77]

I think the only thing you can do is be careful and drive slowly, especially at night. Turning on high beams when it's really dark out can help, too.

[sherryfan]

That's very dangerous, even you lower the speed it would still be very bad to hit the deer, is there anything they can do about it? like fence.

[dreamyxo]

Slow down.  Maybe they make something you can put o n your car to get them to stay away.

[jenniferhoder]

I live in  Michigan, and the deer are certainly running wild here too. I drive slower and really pay attention to my surroundings.  And keep my fingers crossed.