Dark question of the day for Monday January 6.

[IAG]

Let's say you were driving down a street ...maybe 30 =40 mph and see an animal in the road ahead of you....like a puppy or a cat. There is a car close enough behind you that if you suddenly braked you would be rear ended. If you swerve to avoid running over the animal, you will likely hit a car in opposing traffic. What would you do?


I was thinking about this because I saw a freshly dead animal in the middle of the street the other day. I was able to swerve to avoid running right over it in this instance because there was no traffic.
It got me to wondering what I would do if there was traffic...I don't like the idea of feeling my vehicle mushing over a carcass. Then I began to wonder what I would do if it were alive.

I think my natural reaction in that moment would be to brake and let the pieces fall where they may. I do not think I could run over any kind of animal...especially of the family pet variety.

WWYD?

 

[IAG]

And if this thread is not an indication that I have too much time on my hands nothing is.

 

[MrX]

I'd hit the brakes.

Fuck tailgaters.

 

[CASPERWAIT$]

If it's a dog, I swerve.

A cat, I keep going.

 

[MrX]

Swerve is the only inherently wrong answer. The car coming the other way is doing nothing wrong.

What's wrong with you, Casper?

 

[MrX]

Actually, I'm wrong. I just reread. You might not hit the other car if you swerve, but you will be rear-ended if you brake. My bad.

 

[mrquincy]

If the animal won't injure me, or my car, I will drive right over it. I may re-consider a bit for a dog, but I would never risk any human life over any animal.

I have driven over a rather sizeable list of animals in my days...the last one was seagull that landed in front of my car when I was doing about 70mph...

Pooooof.

One of the more notable experiences is wiping out a whole family of raccoons... looking in the rear view mirror and see them all rolling like bowling balls..

 

[mrquincy]

Double post

 

[IAG]

Damn Quincy. I know that that makes sense and all. ...I just don't think I could do it. And if I'm honest, I'm not sure if it is as much for the life of the dog, or if the idea of squishing it is just too much. I don't even like the crunch sound of some spiders/bugs when you kill them.

Nah..even if there was no sound/feeling, I would still brake. I couldn't hit an animal. This discussion is making me realize I need to wear my seatbelt though. I am very bad about that.

 

[Cami]

well can't you swerve off the road and into the grass/sidewalk?

 

[IAG]

well can't you swerve off the road and into the grass/sidewalk?

Not if you are in a center lane.

 

[mrquincy]

So you would avoid hitting a dog and possibly injuring or killing yourself or some other people? Please explain this to me. I think I know your answer, but please humor me, by explaining your failed logic.

I guess if you don't drive very much, you have not experienced this scenario very often.

I have to learn to run over wild turkeys... the last couple times I had the ability to stop but as soon as I did, realized I missed a Grade A roadkill opportunity

 

[Boner_18]

Im with MrX. I hit the brakes hard when there isn't an animal. Its always gonna be the guy behinds fault and NY is a modified contributory negligence state. Ill gladly take his house, kids college fund and the shirt off his back.

 

[bacon]

I hit it 100 times out of 100 and maybe shed a tear.

 

[MrX]

Im with MrX. I hit the brakes hard when there isn't an animal. Its always gonna be the guy behinds fault and NY is a modified contributory negligence state. Ill gladly take his house, kids college fund and the shirt off his back.

There ya go.

I don't hate tailgaters quite as much as Boner, but I'm not going to let them make me run over a critter.

 

[bacon]

Boner wins thread.

 

[IAG]

So you would avoid hitting a dog and possibly injuring or killing yourself or some other people? Please explain this to me. I think I know your answer, but please humor me, by explaining your failed logic.

I guess if you don't drive very much, you have not experienced this scenario very often.

I have to learn to run over wild turkeys... the last couple times I had the ability to stop but as soon as I did, realized I missed a Grade A roadkill opportunity

I'm not saying it makes sense. I'm not saying that is the right answer. I just am not sure I could do it. I think in the moment I brake.

I have driven plenty in my life...I'm just not currently driving much. . I don't know that I would swerve into oncoming traffic, and I don't see a fatal accident in the braking scenario. I might be able to hit a wild turkey. But a domestic pet ..probably not.

 

[Cami]

Not if you are in a center lane.

I would most likely hit the animal and avoid an accident and possible injury to myself or another person, not to mention damages to a vehicle and then waiting for it to get fixed etc. I haven't had to go through this, and I hope I never do, but I'd sooner run over it then cause injury to myself, other drives, or my car.