Would you swerve to avoid hitting a dog?

[just4today]

I saw the very sad story out of Arizona about the van full of cheerleaders on their way to a high school football game. The van crashed as the driver swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the road. Two were killed, others injured.

This brings up a very good question (and probably a debate ). A few years ago my teenage daughter was driving home from school with two younger siblings in the car. Admittedly, she was talking on her cell phone (for which she was admonished and disciplined). As she drove into a blind curve, a dog ran out into the road. She had no choice but to hit the dog or swerve over the center line and face a possible head-on collision with another car coming around. She wasn't going very fast. The dog stumbled a bit, but was able to run away under it's own power.

She knew who owned the dog, so she turned around and went back to the woman's house (she lived just before the curve). The woman who owned the dog proceeded to berate my daughter for having hit her dog, and for being on the cell phone while she was driving. In so many words, she accused DD of causing the whole thing by being on the phone. She was furious that her dog had run off. Fortunately, DD had the good sense to just shut her mouth, apologize, and drive off. But she was badly shaken and upset when she got home. DD is a dog lover herself and would never deliberately harm any animal, much less a dog.

So the question is: would you hit an animal in the road to avoid swerving (and possibly wrecking)?

 

[sweetandsassyfl]

I am an animal lover, but no I would not. As much as I love dogs, human life is more important.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If I could swerve safely, yes. If I could not no. My mother ran over a dog when we were kids.
You can't help it sometimes.

 

[loco4dis]

No. My dad taught me 30 years ago that a fast swerve to miss an animal is a sure way to roll your vehicle and kill some humans. And today's tragic story of those cheerleaders in Arizona just proves that out. Dad was a smart guy.

Now, so no one flames me, I'll brake if I can. I don't want to hit an animal. But my job as a driver is to be in control of that vehicle at all times. If I have to hit an animal to maintain control of the vehicle, then I will (and have). And that's what I've taught my own children.

 

[luvmy3]

I would swerve only if it was safe to do so. I wouldn't put myself, family or anyone else at risk to save an animal.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

It would depend where I was and if another car was coming or if there was another car behind me. I usually swerve or slow down when I see an animal run out infront of me.

 

[shortbun]

I brake if I can assess the situation. If I'm not going fast, I'll drive around an animal but if conditions would cause an accident, the dog gets hit. Sad but true.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Really, you usually don't get a lot of time to analyze the situation. I think it's a natural reaction to swerve to avoid hitting ANYTHING. I've certainly swerved to avoid hitting or being hit by a car. A truck pulled into my lane once and I swerved into the next lane without even looking--it happened in a split second. Luckily, the person in the next lane reacted quickly and swerved into the emergency lane, so neither of us were killed by the actions of the trucker.

It was an accident. It's very hard to second-guess an accident (that's why they're called accidents).

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Yes, always.

And I hope whoever it was who voted that he/she purposely tries to run over cats has an absolutely miserable day

 

[alldiz]

I would like to think I would swerve if it is safe. My instinct is to swerve but DH has told me numerous times not to......for the reasons stated in OP.
Kerri

 

[just4today]

This issue is a real hot button for me. I live in a rural area with mostly curvy, mountain roads. We have a very active logging industry whose trucks FLY down through those roads. To cross the center line, even on the straightaways sometimes, is to court death. Still pet owners here think nothing of letting their animals run wild. Every day that I drive I encounter at least one type of animal in the road, be it a dog or cat. Often times it's a deer (or 5). I've even come across bears It is just instinct to turn that wheel to avoid hitting an animal. It takes very conscious effort not to do so.

Another question: since the same pet owners let their animals run in the road, like in my DD's case she knew who the animal belonged to even though she didn't personally know the woman (that says something), should those pet owners be held negligent if it's found that their pet was in the road and a driver swerved to avoid hitting it?

 

[MushyMushy]

For me it depends on where I'm driving. If there's a lot of traffic, then no I wouldn't swerve. If I'm on a fairly deserted road going a slower rate of speed, then I'd be more inclined to swerve. On our twisty, windy roads I'm never going so fast that I'd roll anyway.

To answer the OP's question about negligence, I do think owners should be responsible for whatever damage their loose animals cause. If a driver hits the dog, not only should the driver not have to pay a dime for hurting the dog, but the dog's owner should have to pay for the car's damage.

 

[pleefy]

I grew up where we had lots of deer and had it pounded into my head from an early age that you do NOT swerve to avoid hitting animals because people could get hurt or die. So, my immediate response is always to hit the animal.

Now that I'm older and a better driver, I'd swerve if I knew I could safely do so. But if there weren't time to check, I'd hit the animal.

 

[Dedejf]

Yes, always.

And I hope whoever it was who voted that he/she purposely tries to run over cats has an absolutely miserable day

Amen! Totally agree with Suzie and have to add the same about anyone who would purposely run over a dog or any animal for that matter. WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU ANYWAY???

 

[Serena]

Yes, I would swerve to avoid hitting anything. It pure instinct. However so is saving my own life, and my children, as I was swerving to avoid the dog, I'd swerve back to avoid hitting another vehical as well.

 

[JimmyPicker]

I live in the country, so I'm faced with this problem relatively often -- only it's not with dogs, it's with deer.

My husband always tells me that a deer will give and a ditch will not. I have not hit a deer, because the roads are normally empty except for me and the deer, so it's safe to swerve.

But if there were oncoming cars, I guess I would have to hit the deer.

 

[coolbeans]

If I can safely swerve I will, I have a major phobia of hitting a snake and it somehow getting up under my car and into the car so I swerve to avoid them too!! We hit a turkey the other week, or rather he hit us. DH saw one cross the road and was watching him land on the other side of the road when his buddy flew up and hit the top of the windshield, no damage other than turkey poop on the car!!

 

[just4today]

I live in the country, so I'm faced with this problem relatively often -- only it's not with dogs, it's with deer.

My husband always tells me that a deer will give and a ditch will not. I have not hit a deer, because the roads are normally empty except for me and the deer, so it's safe to swerve.

But if there were oncoming cars, I guess I would have to hit the deer.

I sympathize. I have this problem often, especially in the spring and fall. It seems to happen just about daily. Miraculously I have never hit a deer myself. I have had one run into my stopped car though I think they have to be the stupidest creatures ever put on this earth. If you do ever have to hit a deer, be prepared. Yes they "give" but they can do major damage to your car, sometimes even come through the windshield if you're going fast enough.

 

[just4today]

If I can safely swerve I will, I have a major phobia of hitting a snake and it somehow getting up under my car and into the car so I swerve to avoid them too!! We hit a turkey the other week, or rather he hit us. DH saw one cross the road and was watching him land on the other side of the road when his buddy flew up and hit the top of the windshield, no damage other than turkey poop on the car!!

I hit a vulture once. He and his group were in the road, doing typical vulture things. As I approached, one of them was just too slow taking off. They are so big and ungraceful

 

[LuvOrlando]

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