Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Sorry, Lassie, If It Comes Down To Me Or You...

...you're gonna die.

"Killingsworth Pest Control Under Fire For Telling Employees To Run Over Stray Dogs."

I understand what this man is saying, and I agree with it. There are times when you are driving that you can be killed if you swerve or brake to avoid hitting an animal. Over on the coast near Southport, NC, is a country road with deep drainage canals on either side of the road - - to swerve off the road means your car will go into the water and sink, and you'll very likely die. On that road one evening I cautioned my girlfriend, who was driving, about the necessity of hitting an animal in that situation rather than swerving and going into the ditches. "If it's a choice between Bambi and the ditch, Bambi has to die," I told her. Sure enough, just a few minutes later Rocky Raccoon ran into the road - - the car ahead of us hit Rocky, and, to her credit, so did my girlfriend.

Does this mean that you callously hit any stray dog in the road? Not at all. But if you're driving and an animal enters the road and the only option is to hit it to avoid the possibility of death to the driver and passengers, the animal must be hit.

6 comments:

tsquared said...

I tried to teach that to my children when they started to drive. My daughter figured it out quickly and has nailed a few dogs and other small animals with minimal damage to her car in the past 15 years. It took my son a bit longer and two totaled vehicles to figure it out.

ProudHillbilly said...

I've managed to do a straddle a couple times, with the coon/possum coming out ok. But jerking the wheel can be an invitation for disaster. Makes me want to throw up when I have hit something but it's better than the alternative.

ProudHillbilly said...

I've managed to do a straddle a couple times, with the coon/possum coming out ok. But jerking the wheel can be an invitation for disaster. Makes me want to throw up when I have hit something but it's better than the alternative.

juvat said...

I expect to get my Wife's car back from the body shop today. Driving to Church at daybreak Palm Sunday, saw a shadow cross in front of me. A deer. Just as I realized it was a deer, the thought came that they rarely travel by themselves. I was right. His wingman kamikazied into the drivers side door.
USAA has gotten pretty good about Deer Strikes. Fill out an online report, drop the car off at the authorized body shop, pay your deductible and pick up your car when it's done. Pretty easy.

Old NFO said...

I had that same conversation with both my daughters... And it's hard, but OUR lives matter more than an animal...

zdogk9 said...

USAA hasn't blinked an eye when Bambi or his mother decided to find out if they were tougher than my truck. Rocky and Pogo well sucks to be you.