Just hit the deer
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Mythbusters actually just tested this using low-slung cars like Civics (a CRX, actually) and found that in general the more you reduce your speed the better off your chances will be.
Using a Taurus and a Sable, they found no matter what it will go up and over...the higher the speed, the more damage to the windshield and roof.
If I recall correctly they were testing using an analog for a moose, not a deer...but from experience, if you're in something big and high, hit it. If you're in a little car, get around it or slow down.
Using a Taurus and a Sable, they found no matter what it will go up and over...the higher the speed, the more damage to the windshield and roof.
If I recall correctly they were testing using an analog for a moose, not a deer...but from experience, if you're in something big and high, hit it. If you're in a little car, get around it or slow down.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
I was coming home one dark and rainy night on 89 up in VT in my wife's Plymouth minivan. I was clocking along at about 75, all of a sudden there was a deer right at the front fender. No time to think about do I hit it or do I swerve... It was pure reaction - I swerved to the right as hard as I could, then cut back left as hard as I could. Missed the thing, must have been by a fraction of an inch. If I had just swerved one way, I'd have rolled the thing for sure, probably killed myself. But the reverse turn brought me right back into balance driving along like nothing happened. If you don't count the 10 years it took off my life!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I'd hit the deer, swerving can really screw you up quick and be much worse than nailing the deer. Slow down the best you can and keep er straight.
I once saw a plastic grocery bag cause a 4 car pileup on the PA turnpike. The guy swerved to miss the bag and caused the accident. The first time I saw an Explorer doing 65mph sideways, didn't flip either.
I once saw a plastic grocery bag cause a 4 car pileup on the PA turnpike. The guy swerved to miss the bag and caused the accident. The first time I saw an Explorer doing 65mph sideways, didn't flip either.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
I'd hit the deer, swerving can really screw you up quick and be much worse than nailing the deer. Slow down the best you can and keep er straight.
I once saw a plastic grocery bag cause a 4 car pileup on the PA turnpike. The guy swerved to miss the bag and caused the accident. The first time I saw an Explorer doing 65mph sideways, didn't flip either.
I once saw a plastic grocery bag cause a 4 car pileup on the PA turnpike. The guy swerved to miss the bag and caused the accident. The first time I saw an Explorer doing 65mph sideways, didn't flip either.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
