Table of Contents

5. Driving Safety

• 5.1. Distracted Drivers
• 5.2. Getting Ready to Drive
• 5.3. Defensive Driving
• 5.4. Driving Safety for Mature Drivers - Tips to Help You Drive Safer .... Longer
• 5.5. When You Back Up
• 5.6. Avoiding Rear-end Collisions
• 5.7. Emotions
• 5.8. Basic Driver Improvement
• 5.9. Safety Belts
• 5.10. Protecting Children
• 5.11. Speed Limits
• 5.12. Following Officer's and Fireman's Instructions
• 5.13. Crossing Intersections
• 5.14. Right-of-Way
• 5.15. Stop Signs
• 5.16. Open Intersections
• 5.17. Roundabouts
• 5.18. Driveways
• 5.19. Emergency Vehicles
• 5.20. Making Turns
• 5.21. Turnabout (Three-Point Turn)
• 5.22. Turn Signals and Emergency Signals
• 5.23. Traffic Lanes
• 5.24. Blind Spots
• 5.25. Passing
• 5.26. Minimum Safe Following Distances
• 5.27. Parking
• 5.28. Expressway Driving
• 5.29. Night Driving
• 5.30. Animals
• 5.31. Reduced Visibility
• 5.32. Handling Emergencies
• 5.33. First Aid

There may be times when an animal suddenly runs in front of your vehicle. Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway to avoid hitting the animal. Big game animals, mostly deer, are large enough to cause damage, injuries and fatalities to a motor vehicle. However, the size of the animal may cause you to take drastic action to prevent a collision. This may result in a more serious crash than if the vehicle collided with an animal. Regretfully, the safest alternative may be hitting the animal. Concentrate on regaining control of the vehicle before, during, and after the collision with the animal. You can use these precautions to reduce your chances of colliding with an animal:

• Use caution when driving at dawn and dusk, this is when your visibility is poor and animals are most active.
• The risk of animal/vehicle collisions is greatest during the months of October, November and December, due to the onset of breeding.
• Use caution and be alert when driving on roadways marked with deer crossing signs. These signs are placed in areas that have had a large number of deer/vehicle collisions.
• Look well down the road and far off to each side. Scan the sides of the road to watch for the reflection of your vehicle headlights in the eyes of animals, especially at night and near woods and water.
• Slow down when approaching animals that are standing near the roadway, they may bolt or change direction at the last minute.
• If you see an animal, such as a deer cross the road, slow down and use caution. Deer travel in groups expect other deer to follow.
• Use flashers or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when animals are spotted on or near the road.
• If you think you have time to avoid hitting an animal, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights so flashing them may cause the animal to freeze in the road. If there are no vehicles close behind you, brake hard, but do not lock wheels causing a skid.
• If a collision is inevitable, do not swerve to avoid the animal, your risk of personal injury may be greater if you do. Keep your vehicle under control and on the roadway when you hit the animal.
• Report the crash to the police if it involves a large animal such as a deer or farm animal. If the animal is a domestic pet and homes are nearby try to notify the pet's owner, if possible. Do not go inside someone's home.
• Pets, such as dogs may also run out on the roadway. Dogs that chase vehicles tend to approach in a straight line. Slow down until the dog is near your vehicle then accelerate away from the dog as it approaches. Dogs are likely to be seen in residential, rural or farm areas.

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