How do you protect yourself in the event that you actually hit a deer with your car to avoid injury?

Question

There are lots of deer on the highway my boyfriend and I drive everynight. There is a hill, and often there are deer at the bottom of it, usually (so far) not on the road, but darn close! I'm worried that if we encounter a deer at the bottom of that hill, we are going 60 mph, and we can't stop, how do we protect ourselves if we hit it? Like, if the windshield breaks, to avoid serious injury, how should we protect ourselves?

in response to answer #1 and # 3. I ALWAYS wear a seatbelt, and we don't speed. The speed limit on the highway here is 60. How bout that now?!

Answer 1

4 main safety ideas when driving in a deer area.

1. Use caution and drive 10 MPH slower than usual imagining there is a deer around each corner in the middle of the road.

2. When you do find that dumb deer in your headlights remember not to swerve too much.

3. Rather, Slam on your brakes to reduce impact speed as much as possible.

***4. Remember the deer will likely keep running if he is in the lane of traffic already. Aim for the rear-end of the deer, not the head. With this approach, you will likely hit just part of the deer, and not take the whole deer head on. By hitting only part of deer, there is less of an impact on your car, and therefore less dangerous of an incident. Also hitting a deer on just the corner of your car creates less of a risk of the deer flying across the hood into the window.

Good Luck in Deer Country!! Drive Safely!!

*** If this approach fails, just get your buddy to hang out the window with a 22-guage shotgun and take target practice on any deer on the side of the road.

Answer 2

It doesn't matter what the speed limit is, if you know this to be a problem stretch of highway then just slow down while passing through it. Any idea the force behind a deer through your windshield at 60 mph and one at 30 mph? The seat belt? Not going to help if there is a projectile coming at your face. You said it yourself, you drive this road every night, there are deer so one or the other has to become educated. I guess that's you.

Answer 3

If it happens there is little that you can do to avoid injury, especially if it goes through the windshield. On the other hand, if you see the deer and cannot avoid hitting it, try to swerve so you hit it with the side of your car. At least then there will be a smaller chance that it can go through any windows. However, if it bounces up on the roof, try and duck down and get on the floor as fast as possible to avoid getting crushed. This stuff happens all the time in rural Alberta, where I live, so I have heard lots of stories. Go slower than the speed limit in that area, and be safe.

Answer 4

If you know the deer like to hang out at the bottom of the hill then try slowing down to a safer speed, 60 mph speed limit only means its the maximum speed you can legaly go. You are allowed to go a fair bit slower. Its only common sense. I would reccomend that if you do hit a deer dont try putting it in your car like they did on Tommy Boy. That can only lead to a terribly funny situation.

Answer 5

There's no way you'll react fast enough to do anything (if there is anything at all) that will help you if you hit a deer going 60 MPH. Knowing that there's deer in the area should make you drive slower and more carefully... if you choose not too then you'll suffer the potential consequences and injury.

Answer 6

Continue to drive until you are able to slow down. If you are able to pull over do so immediatly because you can get hit from behind. Do not try to avoid the deer, this will cause for a larger accident.

For example I hit a deer in August, I was going over 60 mph on a 4 lane highway at night. I hit the deer, stayed in my lane until is was clear (no one stopped) and then drove over to the median. I almost got hit in the process but I was very careful and used my emergency blinkers.

Point is I survived, my car did not. I hit a 200lb buck. An officer witness my accident and called for backup. He said I handled it perfectly. I do admit that after I hit the deer and pulled over I screamed in panic and fear. I also did not believe that I survied that accident. And of course, I was wearing my seatbelt.

Answer 7

there is a slim chance that you can avoid hitting a deer when they are in the road I've hit several and if possible try to hit them with the passenger side so you can still see if they roll up on the hood. if they come through stop immediately and get out fast because their hooves can kill a person. your seat belt wont help you any just slow you down and possibly get you hurt

Answer 8

I have the same problem, but with Kangaroos.

Does your car have safety air bags?, they will help you hurting your self if you hit a deer.

Also make sure that you have insurance that covers for animal damages.

Just drive slower than what is stated, it can save your life, especially if the road is wet, and the car can go out of control.

Good luck, and stay safe.

Merry Xmas

Answer 9

It all depends how you hit the deer. If you hit it and it bounces and comes through the windshield onto you, there is not alot you can do. A woman died in my area from that happening. Drive slowly through that area. Be cautious.

Answer 10

on my pick up i got a steel grill guard to take the inpact an i wear my seat bealt . i have bashed two deer this year.