Animals on the Road

When you are on the road driving, there are sovehicle and the speed she was going; both the
many things to think about. One of the things thatwoman and the deer were killed almost instantly.
people often don't think about until it is too late isWhen I was a police officer, I had to respond to
animals. One time, when I was driving home fromnumerous calls of people hitting deer while driving.
work at night, I was rounding a corner just off ofIn situations like this, I would always make sure
the highway when a giant blur of dark brownthat the person or persons was ok first. Then, if
jumped right in front of my Jeep. I didn't eventhe animal was still on the scene, I would see if
have time to look around, slam on my brakes orthe animal was still alive. If the animal was in pain
swerve out of the way. As quickly as whatever itor suffering, we were instructed to call a sergeant
was came into my view, it was just as quicklyor other superior to the scene who would then
gone from my view.euthanize the animal safely and out of sight of
Deer are usually the animals that are often thethe public eye. If the animal was deceased, then
culprits as well as the victims of the numerouswe had access to the local animal safety patrol
people who occupy the roadways. It seems thatwho would come out and collect the dead animal
when it comes to playing the driving game, deerbody from the roadway.
and other wild animals often lose the battle toWhen people hit an animal, it is often very
humans. However, while it is unfortunate that antraumatizing. So many of us are animal lovers,
animal of any species should be killed by a vehicle,that to hit another animal or even kill another
it is sadder still to think that these same animalsanimal with our vehicle takes a toll on us
(who often do not mean any harm) can actuallypersonally. We feel guilt-ridden and wonder what
inflict the same type of injury and death uponwe could have done to prevent the accident from
human beings who are neatly wrapped up insidehaving happened in the first place. For starters, if
of what should be a safe vehicle.you know that you are going to be driving
Not that long ago, there was an incident in whichanywhere and are worried about the possibility of
a woman was driving home at night when a deerhitting an animal, there are a few things that you
jumped in front of her car. She tried to swerveshould be aware of. For instance, if you are
to get out of the way, but she couldn't get outtraveling at night by car, know that dusk and
of the way in time. As it turned out, she not onlynighttime is when deer often come out to feed.
struck the deer, but because of the size of herThey will often stand at the edge of roadways,
car (which was small) compared to the size ofwhich means that you should always reduce your
the deer as well as where the deer struck herspeed when coming up to a poorly lit area.