Avoiding the unexpected deer

[Thymeclock]

Thanks again for explaining the difference between California and Missouri.

Ecomodders are open minded people weighting their options based on measurable facts. If you don't fall into that category you'll find little support here.

Measurable fact: move to NY City and you'll never need to worry about deer again. You might need to worry about encounters with animals of the two-legged variety, but that's a different story...

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Varn

Clev if you live in california you might have 2o days of winter. Last winter started in with the snow in November and ended in late march. I wish I had 4wd but don't, I would not prefer to lug around the 500 pounds of shafts and gears for the few months that I need them. If I had 4wd I would have used it but didn't, hence chains.

You had snow on the ground for 4 continuous months? I didn't realize that you were in some kind of space warp. And a 2WD Econoline is better in this subarctic winterland than a 4WD S10 that gets almost twice the mileage?

Smart thinking about not wanting to swerve to avoid a potential collision. Statistics have proven that the only way to avoid a collision is to brake. Of course that is not accurate in every case. Statistic show that rain is a big component in deer accidents but every hunting statistic shows that deer don't move in the rain ...What that that prove, neither proves anything. I have a lot of training in maneuvering to avoid.

Dude, let it go. Do I need to repeat the number? FIVE PEOPLE died in ONE YEAR in deer-related crashes. 24 people in a SIX-YEAR SPAN. And too bad all that training in maneuvering to avoid doesn't work in a full-size van.

When I studied physics we were taught that Newton stated that something like A=F/m That means that if you have more mass, you will be subject to less acceleration. Something desirable in an accident. I suppose that it would be better from your perspective if you and I had a collision I would not be in a 5000 pound vehicle but walking. Life is not fair that way.

"ME, ME, ME." Like I said, you'd be a fool not driving a nice Topkick, or maybe get a CDL and go for a Freightliner. There might be a 4WD Econoline out there that weighs 500 pounds more than yours, and then you'd be at a disadvantage again.

You still might get killed by an errant locomotive, I guess. They tend to stay on their tracks, but maybe they've been conspiring with the deer.

I would be open sir if you want to get me a new economy car. Please test it and see if you can haul 5000 pounds minimum.

Yeah, let's load 5,000 pounds in the back of your Econoline and see how far it goes. Maybe that's why it's bottoming out in the ruts.

So, let's summarize.

1. You live in Missouri where, despite the fact that 5 people in an average year die from deer-car collisions, apparently the entire deer population is running out in front of you.

2. You have snow 120 days a year, despite the fact that none of the neighboring states do.

3. You have no problem driving a 5,200 pound van, but think that a 2,800 pound S10 would be ruined by an extra 250 pounds (or, in your mind, 500 pounds) of 4WD gear.

4. You haul 5,000 pounds of stuff, both directions, every day. You never drive the van empty (or with less than 5,000 pounds in it.)

5. Your farms are net-energy positive, even taking into account the fact that you apparently have to haul materials between your farms 5,000 pounds at a time all day, every day. (Not to mention that most crop-based biofuel operations are net-energy negative to begin with.)

6. You want to improve your transportation energy usage, but without parking the 2.5 ton rectangular box, slowing down, hauling less stuff or basically changing anything.

7. Even if you could only drive it 100 days a year, a used sedan would pay for itself in a year or two, but I have to buy it for you and weld a safety cage into it so you won't get killed by a deer and/or Econoline 4WD.

Hmm... May I suggest wheel skirts and pizza pan hubcaps?

Thanks again for explaining the difference between California and Missouri.

Thanks again for explaining the difference between your farm and the rest of Missouri and its neighboring states.

[Bicycle Bob]

This is a deer-infested area, too, with critters up to 300 lbs. Then there's the Moose. A guy on a motorcycle hit one at the end of a 10,000 mile tour, 3 miles from home. He's permanently messed up. The 1st local vehicle I ever rode in got $3k of work done to a deer strike on one side, and two weeks later, got totalled by one on the other side.

I don't drive very often, but I saved my car with evasive action once, loosing only a parking light, but then lost the fender when one jumped into it from the side, from a ditch, behind a bush, with the sun at his back. Even if I'd seen it coming, I was on a low-traction gravel road. I'm figuring on adding a strong tube just behind the middle of the windshield to keep it moving the right way if I get one head -on.

Deer have zero traffic sense, and in rutting season, no natural caution either. If you see one, don't stare - scan for the others nearby.

[gasstingy]

I had the pleasure of a deer standing on I-65 in the the right hand north bound lane years ago. About 9:00 at night when it was pitch dark outside. I'd never been told about deer and their habits, but let me share this. When your headlights hit them, they freeze. I slid into him (her?) at about 30 mph and it bounced off the hood of my almost new Ford Pinto before being tossed over the guard rail. Lost both headlights and {in a 55 mph speed zone} an Alabama State Trooper had me follow him to the next exit and filling station at 80 mph. Got an education that night!

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Varn

Clev if you live in california you might have 2o days of winter. Last winter started in with the snow in November and ended in late march.

Oh, poor baby! I live maybe 10 miles east of the California state line, so get the same weather. Down here in the valley (~5000 ft), we had snow falls from late October/early November last year (winter started pretty late) up through the end of May. Higher elevations? Well, if I look out my back yard, I can still see snow on some of the peaks. Yet somehow I still manage to do the great majority of my driving in a (1st generation) Honda Insight.

Oh, yeah: we do have a few dirt & gravel roads out here, too :-)

[Arragonis]

Well if it happens at 4mph with humans there is no hope for deer at 35.

BBC News - How the UK's first fatal car accident unfolded

[davidgrey50]

As our French cousins might say: "S**t happens."

[euromodder]

When looking to improve FE, the first factor is to buy an appropriately sized car.
Buying an oversized car will be responsible for the greatest reduction in FE.
Unfortunately, bigger is better still dominates US marketing and consumer thinking.

People in Skandinavia don't need to drive monster trucks to survive the deer.
The overall road safety figures in those countries, are even way better than the chilling US numbers.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by euromodder

When looking to improve FE, the first factor is to buy an appropriately sized car.
Buying an oversized car will be responsible for the greatest reduction in FE.
Unfortunately, bigger is better still dominates US marketing and consumer thinking.

On these things we can agree.

People in Skandinavia don't need to drive monster trucks to survive the deer.
The overall road safety figures in those countries, are even way better than the chilling US numbers.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are in Belgium, and that is not considered part of Scandinavia. Last time I visited Belgium I didn't see any deer; it seems most of the population lives in the cities with a much sparser population in the countryside.

Of course the statistics will be better than the "the chilling US numbers" in many European countries because there are fewer people in a given country, fewer vehicles per capita and maybe far fewer deer. This may be like comparing apples to oranges; the analogy drawn may not be applicable.

[tumnasgt]

Originally Posted by Thymeclock

On these things we can agree.
Of course the statistics will be better than the "the chilling US numbers" in many European countries because there are fewer people in a given country, fewer vehicles per capita and maybe far fewer deer. This may be like comparing apples to oranges; the analogy drawn may not be applicable.

By population, the US is worse than most of Europe

By miles driven, the US is about the same as a lot of Europe