Deer collision protection for the Bronco Sport.

[Elegance]

The absolute best thing folks can do is leave coyotes alone and let them do their natural predatory thing. They mostly go after fawns, but there is evidence of them preying on mature adult deer too. In some areas, 40% of a coyote's winter diet is comprised of deer.

Unfortunately, I haven't found any good solutions to protect my vehicle from them. Whistles don't work and any bull bar you can find for the Sport won't serve the same purpose as a big cattle guard on a truck.

Sponsored

 

[BourbonRunner]

@Elegance agree on the coyotes to a certain extent. Deer are a major part of their diet but so is anything easy to kill.

A big component at least here in the East is getting bunny huggers to understand that in the absence of predation, hunters are the best option (and efficient) to make a dent in the deer population. When I was a kid MD had a 1-buck, 1-doe limit for bow, gun, and black powder. You could buy an extra deer stamp but that was it. Due the millions in vehicular property damage and tragically death, we now allow unlimited does, and if you want to shoot another buck after your one, you have to kill a doe.

When I was a kid, typically a doe would have one fawn per cycle. If she had twins, usually one didn't make it. Now they have triplets on the regular and 2-3 of them make it to adulthood. A doe in her lifetime could birth 15+. And worse- does are hitting sexual maturity now in half the time they used to (6-9 months vs 18)

I've been on crop damage permits and qualified as a sharp shooter for managed hunts. May sound harsh but taking 100+ deer out of the population in a given area makes a huge difference provided you repeat the action regularly.

 

[Barry S.]

I lived for ten years in a rural area where deer collisions were quite frequent (including my wife and myself within one week of each other).
Some lessons learned:
When driving on a dark road, use your brights.
Be especially vigilant at dawn and dusk when deer are most active.
In addition to watching the road, try to keep an eye on the sides of the road.
If a deer crosses the road in front of you, slow down and keep watching. Deer travel in herds and, if one crosses, there's a good chance there are several coming right behind it.
If a deer runs directly in front of you, hold onto the wheel and hit it. Do not attempt to swerve since you'll be putting yourself in more danger. One of my neighbors swerved into a ditch and rolled his car over. Fortunately he walked away shaken but uninjured. Three kids from our local high school were riding in a car at high speed. The driver swerved into tree. All three were killed.

Just remember that a car, even a beloved Bronco Sport, can be replaced or repaired. The same doesn't apply to people.

 

[jsus]

If a deer runs directly in front of you, hold onto the wheel and hit it. Do not attempt to swerve since you'll be putting yourself in more danger. One of my neighbors swerved into a ditch and rolled his car over. Fortunately he walked away shaken but uninjured. Three kids from our local high school were riding in a car at high speed. The driver swerved into tree. All three were killed.

Don't veer for deer!

https://dnr.illinois.gov/press-release.25587.html

Oh, dear! Don't veer for deer
Press Release - Wednesday, October 19, 2022
PRINT
EMAIL

IDOT, IDNR remind motorists to resist the urge to swerve

SPRINGFIELD - Fall is here and while it's a beautiful time of year as the leaves change color, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are reminding motorists that deer mating season has also arrived. That means deer become more active, mainly at dawn and dusk from October through December.

"Deer often travel in groups, so if a deer crosses the road ahead of you, there is a good possibility that another will follow. Always be prepared for the unexpected. A deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. "Don't veer for deer - it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and swerve into another lane or off the road."

In 2021, 14,522 motor vehicle crashes involved deer in Illinois. Of these, 13,936 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, while 584 caused personal injuries. Two of the crashes resulted in fatalities.

Although a collision with a deer can happen any time, we are entering the peak season for crashes with them. Last year, more than 42% of crashes involving deer in Illinois occurred in October, November and December, with November being the highest-risk month. Rural environments were the site of more than 72% of all motor vehicle crashes involving deer, with more than 71% occurring at twilight or nighttime.

Safe driving tips for deer mating season:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer crossing signs.
• Scan the sides of the road for eye shine - the reflection of headlights in their eyes.
• Slow down if you see a deer. They travel in groups, so more are likely nearby.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road.
• If a collision is inevitable, don't veer. Try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into the opposite lanes of traffic or off the road.

Deer can appear suddenly in surprising environments, so be on alert, slow down and pay attention in areas where they are known to travel.

The top 10 Illinois counties for crashes involving deer in 2021:

1. Cook 493
2. Madison 452
3. Will 326
4. Sangamon 321
5. Peoria 311
6. Kane 299
7. Effingham 294
8. Fulton 289
9. McHenry 264
10. Jefferson 256

"Whether in rural or urban areas, deer are part of the Illinois landscape, and we need to be alert to their presence," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Colleen Callahan. "Please be cautious while on the road as deer are particularly active during the mating season in the fall and during busy driving times around dawn and dusk."

If you hit a deer, pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights and call 911 to report the accident. Do not exit the vehicle to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road.

For information on how to claim a deer involved in a crash, or to report possession of a deer killed in a deer-vehicle crash, click here or visit the IDNR website.

 

[RushMan]

Don't veer for deer!

https://dnr.illinois.gov/press-release.25587.html

I was confronted with 2 deer one day. I was very early heading to my destination. There was no traffic, so I was driving at only 40 mph in a 50 mph zone - no hurry.
2 deer ran in front of me, nicely spaced to hit to both front fenders.
Quick thinking: better to hit only ONE deer and and damage only ONE fender, so I did swerve to nail just one.
I did manage to slow to under 15 mph before I hit the right one.
(I was using Torque Pro and it records GPS coordinates, speed and other variables, and I downloaded the file and checked it out).
The left side deer just stood there. The deer on the right, that I hit, jumped off to the right and ran away into the cornfields. There was a little blood and fur and minor damage to the fog light which required no bodywork.
The natural reaction is to swerve and duck! I think I saved some money that day on my '17 Escape by swerving.
Situational awareness matters.
A friend of mine swerved with his 80 Buick to avoid a feral cat on an icy, snowy day. He went off road, tore up the cross member under the engine, hit a traffic signal control box, and smashed up the grill and hood and had a nice claim against him by the local township for the replacement of control box. Sorry cat lovers, bad decision in that situation. In hindsight, he should have sacrificed the cat.

 

[Mark S.]

If a deer runs directly in front of you, hold onto the wheel and hit it. Do not attempt to swerve since you'll be putting yourself in more danger.

AND, step as hard on the brake pedal as you can. The more you decelerate pre-impact the less damage. You may even slow enough for the dear to get out of the way. The anti-lock brake systems on newer cars are phenomenal. Press as hard as you can--the system will prevent lockup, skidding, and loss of control while slowing you as rapidly as possible.

 

[Cursed Bronco]

Here is what we did to my wife's BB to help protect it since she leaves for work at 5:00 am. I hit a deer in my 05 F150 & fortunately it did minor damage. You also might want to invest in some good deer whistles. These are the ones we have on our vehicles now since I hit the deer.

Amazon.com: Save-A-Deer Whistle : Sports & Outdoors

Will this actually work? Most of a deer will be taller than that bar unless its a small one. Also they would have hit pretty dead center, I feel like a deer hitting the corners will destroy a lot...

 

[coopny]

Don't veer for deer!

https://dnr.illinois.gov/press-release.25587.html

I got hit by a deer in June (three months after getting my BS BL.., posted in this other thread) and both the state police (I called) and county sheriff (farm next to the deer hit heard it, saw what happened, and a retired sheriff called the sheriff's office) both responded to take an accident report and deal with dispatching the deer (although that became a moot point because farmers are resourceful and empathetic people... they relieved the doe of her suffering).

Talked to them about what happened, they said it was a good thing I didn't veer because i would have likely rolled over my car and totaled it at risk of injury to myself. Showed them the dashcam footage (both were impressed and repeatedly asked me what model of dashcam I had) and they both agreed that I never stood a chance to see it and that when recognized that impact was inevitable, that essentially mentally bracing myself for impact is the right move.

 

[S Duncan]

Here is what we did to my wife's BB to help protect it since she leaves for work at 5:00 am. I hit a deer in my 05 F150 & fortunately it did minor damage. You also might want to invest in some good deer whistles. These are the ones we have on our vehicles now since I hit the deer.

Amazon.com: Save-A-Deer Whistle : Sports & Outdoors

After reading your post I ordered some since we were going up to our cabin. I do believe they work, thank you!!!

 

[Alfa 2407]

I can agree with the fact those whistles do not work, tried some on my Girlfriends car, less than two weeks later her front end was smashed in by one

 

[CLR]

AND, step as hard on the brake pedal as you can. The more you decelerate pre-impact the less damage. You may even slow enough for the dear to get out of the way. The anti-lock brake systems on newer cars are phenomenal. Press as hard as you can--the system will prevent lockup, skidding, and loss of control while slowing you as rapidly as possible.

I’m always surprised when I see people swerving all over the place when doing panic braking on the highway. Brake in a straight line! And yes, push that pedal all the way down. For practice, find a deserted road and do repeat stops at gradually increasing pedal pressure. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and safely you can stop.

 

[Mark S.]

I’m always surprised when I see people swerving all over the place when doing panic braking on the highway.

As you note, it's a matter of practice. Stomping with all your strength on the brake pedal encourages pulling with all your strength on the steering wheel. Further, in emergency situations people tend to lose fine motor control. Now imagine trying to steer delicately in an emergency when you're pulling on the wheel as hard as you can. Result? Swerving all over the place.

Practice, practice, practice. If you can find a snow-covered area to practice all the better. If you don't get snow in your area find a gravel road. Max performance braking while carefully steering the car from left to right. It's probably a lot harder than you think it is.

 

[Barry S.]

I lived in deer country for ten years where collisions with deer were frequent. Mostly during during the rut (mating season). My wife and I both hit deer the same week.
I looked into the deer whistle reviews. Conclusion was they do not work.

 

[Barry S.]

Followup story.
I was driving down the road when I saw a huge 10 point buck standing in the middle of the road. I already had filled my deer tags for the season. I moved slowly up to it and it refused to move. I blew my horn, flashed my lights and he just stood there. I finally let the car roll slowly forward to push him. It took about ten seconds of gentle pushing before he slowly moved out of the way.
Didn't have a cell phone back in those days. It would have made a great video.

 

[sajohnson]

As you note, it's a matter of practice. Stomping with all your strength on the brake pedal encourages pulling with all your strength on the steering wheel. Further, in emergency situations people tend to lose fine motor control. Now imagine trying to steer delicately in an emergency when you're pulling on the wheel as hard as you can. Result? Swerving all over the place.

Practice, practice, practice. If you can find a snow-covered area to practice all the better. If you don't get snow in your area find a gravel road. Max performance braking while carefully steering the car from left to right. It's probably a lot harder than you think it is.

Great post Mark.

Sponsored