Deer Reader...

["Al Powell" <apowell@agcom.tamu.edu>]

Having lived in the great Pacific NW where da deer play all day...

I would observe based on reading news reports that a whole lot more 
people have been killed swerving to avoid deer than have ever 
been killed by hitting them.

I remember a news story some years ago.  On Snoqualmie Pass in WA,0
a woman swerved to miss a deer and launched her car over a guard 
rail into a lake; drowned her and two kids.  In her case, I was 
tempted to  consider the accident to be evidence of  the accuracy 
of Darwin's theory...but I was tremendously saddened by the deaths of 
the kids.  (Hard hearted, I know...)  And guess what - she hit the 
deer ANYWAY!  She gained nothing, and lost everything.

Accordingly, I strongly support the thread which says brake, but do 
NOT swerve when spotting deer, dogs, etc....not unless your speed has 
dropped so low while braking that you are 10,000% sure you will not 
swerve off the road or into the path of other traffic.

I applaud the sentiments of those who attempt to avoid wildlife on 
the road - but the bottom line is, if one of us walks away, my value 
system says it should be ME and my family.

That said, I'm not above helping a turtle cross the road - provided 
it's in a place where I can pull off safely and not expose myself to 
danger.


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Al Powell                        Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.          Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843      
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