Deer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 913
From: near philly
For what it's worth, I just heard this morning on the news. If daylight savings were to be legislated permanent, over 37,000 deer hits would be reduced saving untold millions of dollars of damage to all kinds of vehicles. Something about the darkness being partly to blame. Not many deer around these parts, but this is certainly food for thought.
I'm pretty much always going to work in the dark except for a few months in the middle of summer, and I can say for sure the deer sightings and near misses on the roads are 90% of the time in total darkness
They must just be way more active then.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
So, you are driving at 50 MPH. A car suddenly pulls in front of you from a side road. You advise just plowing into the other car without braking because it is safer then hitting the brakes?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 850
Likes: 415
It's pretty cool to see a guy called Elk on a thread called Deer. I don't know where Zebra came from.
As for the brakes, I will continue to use them to avoid or lessen the force of a collision. Generally, your brain is fast enough to cause you to hold your head back when it tells your foot to mash the brakes.
I have hit a few deer over the years, and narrowly missed a couple elk, and have been saved by the brake pedal many times.
As for the brakes, I will continue to use them to avoid or lessen the force of a collision. Generally, your brain is fast enough to cause you to hold your head back when it tells your foot to mash the brakes.
I have hit a few deer over the years, and narrowly missed a couple elk, and have been saved by the brake pedal many times.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
and Mr. Elk, your comparing hitting a 3,000 lb car, to a 200 lb movable deer .......
Basic physics always apply.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 850
Likes: 415
It isn't a theory, it is experience. Even without considering the fact that there aren't many deer on the Daytona track your analogy of that crash doesn't fit in this discussion at all. Anyone who sees an animal in their path while driving and does not use the brakes to some degree probably shouldn't be driving at all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 913
From: near philly
The G forces from max braking aren't even in the ballpark of the G forces from a collision.
And yeah physics do always apply, in some cases you'd probably be better off hitting a 3000 lb car. At least that's a solid object that will allow your car to crumple and the safety systems to do their job.
A 200 lb sack of meat on 4 skinny legs that would stand above the hood of our cars has enough mass to pass straight through the upper cabin if you were going fast enough.
There's no safety system that stops a mass from going through the windshield.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
It makes no difference whatsoever if you are heading for a deer, a pedestrian, or an immobile cement wall. Hit the brakes. Hard. It is what brakes are for.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,771
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
If you read my post. I didn't brake at all, because I didn't see the deer. Pitch black outside, unlighted highway. Deer comes out of heavy brush. Didn't see the deer before or after impact in the dark. I walked away basically unscathed.
Oct & Nov deer are in heat. Bucks chasing Does all over. Everyone that lives in a rural area knows Oct & Nov are danger seasons for whacking a deer. .
Oct & Nov deer are in heat. Bucks chasing Does all over. Everyone that lives in a rural area knows Oct & Nov are danger seasons for whacking a deer. .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 850
Likes: 415
Regardless of our thoughts on braking, I am still sorry to hear about your crash and glad you came out of it good. I like the post-collision pic of the deer; do you have any of the post-collision car? Keep us posted oin the estimate and repair progress.