Another Horrific Deer Story

[Paul_F]

I was listening to the CBC today and they did a short report on deer collisions. There were two scary parts to the report.

First, in Ontario during the first two weeks of November, there are 65-70 deer strikes a day in our province (mating season). Granted, Ontario is a very large province with large areas that are sparsely populated, but still, that’s a lot of hits.

The second scary part, which may not apply to where you live, but in Ontario, if you hit the deer and do damage to your vehicle, insurance covers your damage and premiums remain unchanged. However, if you swerve to miss the deer and do damage to your vehicle (i.e. end up in the ditch), even with a witness to collaborate your story about the deer, Ontario insurance companies will not cover your damage. As well, expect your premiums to substantially increase as it is considered a single vehicle accident caused by driver error. Scary, huh?

[Rod Sheridan]

And to add insult to injury, if you swerve and miss the deer, go in the ditch, you don't even get any vennison!!!

Regards, Rod.

[Holly]

Well, no one ever accused Ontario insurance companies of being logical did they.:rolleyes
I live beside a conservation area, lots and lots of deer, and think I will continue to try to miss them despite the insurance regs.

Holly

[SheRidesABeemer]

However, if you swerve to miss the deer and do damage to your vehicle (i.e. end up in the ditch), even with a witness to collaborate your story about the deer, Ontario insurance companies will not cover your damage. As well, expect your premiums to substantially increase as it is considered a single vehicle accident caused by driver error. Scary, huh?

If you end up in a ditch for reasons having nothing to do with deer, are you covered? Are they motivating you to lie to them? :banghead

[Burnszilla]

If you end up in a ditch for reasons having nothing to do with deer, are you covered? Are they motivating you to lie to them? :banghead
I think the insurance companies are encouraging you to hit the deer and kill it so that there will be less deer and less claims.

[RiverRat280]

Same way in the US, I talked to a claims rep at the body shop and he told me if you have a deer run infront of you just hit it because it won't be your fault but if you go in the ditch to avoid it then its your fault. Don't think I'll try that on the bike tho.

[username]

I think the insurance companies are encouraging you to hit the deer and kill it so that there will be less deer and less claims.

i like this.

one deer can run an infinite number of cars off the road - but if someone runs it down, it can no longer do so.

any animal that runs in front of my car only gets braking - i don't swerve. i'd rather hit a deer than another car, or a telephone pole, or a cyclist, or a pedestrian.

i'm rooting for all you hunters out there. :thumb

[MCMXCIVRS]

I can recall attending more than a few serious or fatal accidents where the vehicle swerved to miss an animal. Brake hard, mow them down and save yourself. If you're on your motorcycle, some evasive manouvering might be prudent, but concentrate on the braking more.

[Fritzc]

Same way in the US, I talked to a claims rep at the body shop and he told me if you have a deer run infront of you just hit it because it won't be your fault but if you go in the ditch to avoid it then its your fault. Don't think I'll try that on the bike tho.

"True story" ????????????????????
A major midwestern university did a study on vehicle/deer crashes.
Three kinds of vehicle/deer crashes.
1. Vehicle hits deer
2. Deer hits vehicle
3. Vehicle swerves to avoid hitting deer.
Results: Number of intoxicated drivers that swerved to avoid deer resulting in various accidents, ie. hitting trees, going into ditch, or rolling over, was much larger than the number of intoxicated drivers that hit deer or had deer hit them.
In other words: In vehicle/deer collisions the driver was most often sober
while vehicle swerving to avoid deer was driven by drunk
driver.
Conclusion: It was easier for deer to avoid being struck by drunk
drivers than sober drivers.

http://www.amishdonkey.com/laughing-cat.php

[RedBeemer]

Whack the animal! Any driving course will instruct you to brake all you want but STAY on the road, in your lane. Why? You know what is in your path of travel but not what is in the other lane or off to the side of the road.

[dlowry]

But, um, what if you hit the deer and end up in the ditch? Then what? Damn those insurance companies..

[tessler]

Brake—firmly, quickly and confidently—and come to a stop on two wheels. In your own lane.

[PacWestGS]

Brake—firmly, quickly and confidently—and come to a stop on two wheels. In your own lane.

Jon I'm just quoting yours but reflecting on the majority - "Brake and Stop in "YOUR OWN" lane"

When I'm in deer country (day or night) and can use the whole road from white line to white line that is "MY" lane. If I can't see or there is someone else in the other lane then I use the lane(s) on my side of the yellow-line only. But, yes keep it on the road.

I drive in the snow like that too - the whole road is mine until I have to share and then I take it back up the middle.

It works for me YMMV

[tessler]

Good point Doc. And I agree that when the opportunity is presented to utilize the whole road, it makes sense to take advantage of it (unless, of course, pressed to share it or if sightlines decrease or surface quality degrades).

A rider friend of mine, a guy who's spent 30 years riding the skein of county and back country roads in Northwestern Connecticut has this (to me) remarkable technique of dancing about an inch to the right of the yellow line (caveat: on these specific country roads, not on let's say I-95 ;)). The road is "only so big" and he takes advantage of every part of it, while he's using it.

[PacWestGS]

A rider friend of mine, a guy who's spent 30 years riding the skein of county and back country roads in Northwestern Connecticut has this (to me) remarkable technique of dancing about an inch to the right of the yellow line. The road is "only so big" and he takes advantage of every part of it, while he's using it.

Yep, I go between the yellow lines or down the striped ones or just like your friend just to the right of yellow then give a little more room when passing opposing traffic then right back to the middle...

Unless there is a tree/bush/or other roadside hiding place for a deer then I give it extra room away from that.

Ride safe, Ride smart - :thumb

[manicmechanic]

A couple years ago, here in Wisconsin, when purchasing my deer-hunting license, with the gun tag we also received 3 more anterless tags. Rumor has it these tags were "courtesy" of the insurance industry. Of course, I'm trying to remember if I even saw a deer in the woods that year. Maybe they were all along the roads?

Just the other day in the local paper I saw a report on a fatal crash in which the driver swerved to miss a deer, crossed the road, into the ditch, out of the ditch and back across the road, into that ditch and hit a tree, killing the passenger.

This morning on my way home from work, just after dawn, on my Airhead, another vehicle passes me. Obviously I wasn't going fast enough for him. Shortly thereafter, passing a wooded area, I see his brake lights as he slowed to avoid a deer coming out of the woods. At times like that I don't mind non-bikes running interference for me, seeing as I've only hit 2 deer on bikes and walked away. I'm in no hurry to repeat the event, either.