What To Do If A Deer Runs In Front Of Your Car

We all know that it is that time of the year where we see more and more deer along the road. They can come out of nowhere. I for one have experienced that first hand. But do you know what to do in the event that a deer runs out in front of you?

Deer are very active this time of the year, especially during the morning hours. Sergent Todd Ringle with the Indiana State Police offered these safety tips last October.

He, along with many other sources, like Geico, commonly say that you should never swerve. For most of us here in the Tri-State, that is common knowledge. However, yesterday I stumbled upon an article that insists that you should also never brake if a deer crosses in front of you. Have you heard of this?

Randy Rand of Jungle Survival Driving Training in Michigan was being interviewed on a local television station. He was asked what you should do if you are faced with a deer crossing the road in front of you. Here is what he had to say. It might give you a different outlook on these situations.

Never brake? When you first think about that, it goes against every gut instinct that you have right?

His reason behind saying "never swerve, never brake" is actually quite simple. You're very focused on what is happening in front of you and you may not realize what is going on behind you. That actually makes sense. You could have an expecting vehicle directly behind you. The damage caused by the vehicle(s) behind you is much greater than the damage that the deer could have on your vehicle.

It makes sense to me, at least. However, I feel like this is one of those things that is easier said than done. In a situation like that, your instincts kick in. You only have a split second to react. Hopefully these tips help you in the event that you come across a deer along the Tri-State roadways.