Avoided deer, spun out, alignment needed?

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by FRyeS

I can't speak for anyone else - but I think when people say "dont swerve, don't veer, just hit the animal" it's with the understanding that the driver has a split second to react. If you have time to plan an escape route, or check your surroundings for a safe runoff area, or check your mirrors for cars etc - then you have time to slow down and not hit the deer.

Further, most people (myself included) don't have a lot of experience with emergency avoidance/braking and panic situations. So again, given how quickly these things happen (anyone in deer country can attest to how quick it happens) most people are going to react and swerve with no regard to surroundings or just hit the deer. I'd say the latter is preferable.

People say that because hitting the deer and just doing some property damage is almost always better than the alternative - hitting another car, ending up in a ditch, telephone pole etc, etc.

And I speak with experience - I hit a deer on an interstate going about 80mph +/- in afternoon traffic. Had I tried to take evasive action I would have been in a guard rail or into another car, potentially creating a multi-car accident. As it turned out, the only things hurt were my car and that stupid stupid deer.

And I don't have stats to back it up - But I would venture to say that very few (as a percentage of the total) car vs. animal hits result in the animal going through the windshield and "smashing someone's face in".

The BRZ has a very low hood. The smallest deer we get are Mule Deer. Take one of those out with a BRZ and it will hit your windshield. Now an Elk or a Moose might just flip right over the car, might not though.

Don't underestimate the risk of an animal strike coming right through your windshield. It happens and when it does it really hurts. Can actually kill you. Avoid the deer if you can. Go round the rear. Train your brain.