Visit our Popular Forums

RichP21 · 07-13-2015, 05:36 PM

Well, this is one scenario I didn't envision. We were returning from the Mountain Stream campground in Marion, NC today at about 1PM, traveling on route 74 at a little under 60 mph. I spotted a deer running down the highway in our direction about 200 yards ahead. 74 is a 4 lane hwy, 2 lanes in each direction. We were traveling in the far right lane. The deer was running towards us in the left lane. It swerved quickly toward us about 30 yards away. I swerved slightly to the right and the deer hit the side of our brand new 25 ft. Flying Cloud. This all happened in about 2 to 3 seconds from our first spotting the deer. A second after hitting the deer, a semi tractor trailer passed us. Maybe that's why the deer headed right into us. I pulled off the road at the first exit, which thankfully was close and assessed the damage. Not much as it turned out. The deer was a doe - very small and obviously lost. I felt worse for the deer than our AS. Could have been much worse. Heaven knows what would have happened with a larger animal. I've experienced some bad drivers on the road but this came as a complete surprise. Anyway, safe travels to all.

Rich

SteveSueMac · 07-13-2015, 05:46 PM

Scary! Glad you're ok.

**moosetags** · 07-13-2015, 06:00 PM

We're glad that this incident turned out as well as it did.

Brian

JimGolden · 07-13-2015, 07:07 PM

I had a deer run into me at 90 degrees. I only wish I'd been pulling my Silver Twinkie....instead I was riding my Harley-Davidson and the deer was going faster than I was when he hit me. Bike went down, I wasn't wearing leathers (like a dope, now I never get on it without looking like Mad Max) and got a broken leg and road rash to beat the band. Man did that hurt!

My new motto, no matter how hot out it is, wear your leather: 'tis better to sweat than to bleed!

Nuvite-F · 07-13-2015, 07:16 PM

Poor deer. But stuff like that happens. In my (rather rural) home county, deer strikes are the #1 cause of auto accidents every year--and by a significant margin.

RichP21 · 07-14-2015, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the well wishes. Jim, your story is scarier - glad you wear the leathers now - assume you had a helmet on. Absolutely true on how deer are a major road hazard. We lived in PA for many years. Deer all over the roads. Very dangerous.

cegardner · 07-14-2015, 10:47 AM

I was a frequent driver in rural Wisconsin. Many late hours. The locals said never swerve. You have a greater chance of a miss staying straight and hoping for the deer to swerve. I had several close calls. Stayed true to course and luckily had the deer do the last minute swerve. Wouldn't have helped you experience with the motorcycle. It is a good thing to remember to when pulling your airstream. Swerving for critters can yells more damage

linebackng · 07-14-2015, 10:57 AM

Just one quick comment. Although it happened that the original writer had no choice, I am a strong believer that you should never blow the horn at a deer, particularly if it is standing still in the road or on the roadside. If anything scares one, it is going to move and there is a 50/50 chance it will be toward you. If it isn't scared by the blast of a horn, it likely will not move until you are past. It's happened me here in the NC mountains many, many times and, knock on wood, I've never hit one, while two of my relatives have each hit six. Roll the dice.

idroba · 07-14-2015, 11:07 AM

I commonly drive US highway 12 between Missoula MT and my home in Idaho at night. Usually in my sedan, not towing. But one trip I had to brake or stop for deer or elk 12 times in 110 miles. ABS is good. And don't swerve, just go stop as fast as you can and go by the critters at 5 to 10 mph. Oh, the posted speed on the road is 50 mph, and at night I drive no faster than 45, with 40 being a better speed.

I have only hit one deer in 30 years. And another hit me, I was doing 50 and one came up the river bank, and across the road and into my car, head first. Took off the rear view mirror and some chrome.

The worst is driving too fast at night in our western "open range" country. That is no fences required from domestic critters owners. I assisted at a scary accident one night in Montana where a VW Rabbit went between the front and back legs of a horse and the body hit the windshield, sideways. The driver was very badly cut up from the glass. We could not find the horse in the dark.

featherbedder · 07-14-2015, 11:09 AM

Also if at nite turn head lights off for a few seconds as lights blind them, doesn't always work but worth a try.

fth · 07-14-2015, 11:25 AM

They travel in groups, if you see one there are others. Hit the brakes hard and hope. I've had three deer run into the side of my car. In the middle of the day... With a red car! I've heard that flashing high beams at night will get them to move but I haven't tried it

Sodbust · 07-14-2015, 04:04 PM

We live in a remote area of west Kansas. Have a country population under 2000 people.. We have over 2200 deer collisions per year,, and 1/2 are no teven reported..

So dont feel bad,, they are just overweight rodents and breed like them if given the chance. Sodbust

Seemore2006 · 07-14-2015, 10:18 PM

Also in rural areas if train blasts horn deer will be scared and jump - sometimes through the highway ditches into traffic.

kswelsh · 07-15-2015, 06:11 AM

We live in the far west suberbs of St. Louis County where the deer are more than abundant. I've had two deer run into me, once at 90 degrees on the highway and once when I was stopped on a rural county road because I saw her and she still ran into me. I know everyone says not to swerve and but tell the brain that when you see a huge animal running toward you. I'm glad you are ok RichP21 and you new AS is ok too.

RichP21 · 07-16-2015, 07:02 AM

Great comments and stories. I agree, it's a bit of the roll of the dice. I don't know why I didn't hit the breaks. Maybe just had no time. Good point about not swerving. Hopefully, I won't be confronted by this dilemma too often - never again would be fine. Thanks for the thoughts/opinions/suggestions!

pappy19 · 07-16-2015, 08:17 AM

Get a front bumper from these guys and you won't be quite as worried.

www.southtexasoutfitters.com

mjayjensen · 07-16-2015, 08:22 AM

After 3 vehicle - deer collisions, I purchased at Wal Mart "Deer Warning" whistles by a company named Bell. They seem to be very effective. I have seen deer look at us and move the other way when we approach.
Inexpensive and worth a try.
Jay

mefly2 · 07-16-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idroba

I commonly drive US highway 12 between Missoula MT and my home in Idaho at night. Usually in my sedan, not towing. But one trip I had to brake or stop for deer or elk 12 times in 110 miles. ABS is good. And don't swerve, just go stop as fast as you can and go by the critters at 5 to 10 mph. Oh, the posted speed on the road is 50 mph, and at night I drive no faster than 45, with 40 being a better speed.

I have only hit one deer in 30 years. And another hit me, I was doing 50 and one came up the river bank, and across the road and into my car, head first. Took off the rear view mirror and some chrome.

The worst is driving too fast at night in our western "open range" country. That is no fences required from domestic critters owners. I assisted at a scary accident one night in Montana where a VW Rabbit went between the front and back legs of a horse and the body hit the windshield, sideways. The driver was very badly cut up from the glass. We could not find the horse in the dark.

Yep ... some of the folks new to the area never adjust / learn... we took out three deer at under 40 mph near Livingston and one on the West shore of Flathead Lake ... fortunately, our speed was low and not towing at the time.