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Was going past night 11pm down a road that has 50mph speed limit. I was like always 60mph and drove that road thousands of times. Two lines in one direction, medium 20' or so and 2 lines in other direction. I was in the left line and some badger or so ran just in front of me. Instead of hitting it I decided to brake sharply and turn the wheel slightly to the left. Whell car slides off, it jumps at medium approximately 2' in. The worst cars from the opposite directions were right at the wrong place. I sharply turned the steering wheel to the right and managed to return the car in my line. I thought I did some damage as there was some noise for a while but it turns out this morning the noise is gone. Guess there was some dirt stuck around wheel. Any way grass and dirt at front bottom, and especially at the rear wheel, but at other parts on the driver's side.
I guess when brake sharply avoid turning steering wheel if possible. At last, I tried to save a soul. I didn't feel I hit it and another car that was in right line was, I guess, farther down road till that thing come to right line.
As you can see my rear wheel was like 6" into dirt. It is how look after cleaning. Some car behind me slowed and kept, how long was driving behind me, distance like 100 yards. Like I'm a maniac. I guess it is what comes to these days. If you are ready to risk your property to save some animal you are a maniac.
When it gets interesting photo of place and exact positions. My car is red line, another car parallel with me is blue. Little fellow is white and two cars in opposite direction is green. That another car that follow me 100 yards away after incident wasn't close at that point to. If I would not sharply counter steer in split second probably would slam in two green cars.
I was past night driving by at same place of Wednesday accident. I didn't see the body of any small animal laying there. It looks like he/she escaped. Only marks of my tires. Will go there Saturday morning do photo. However, I must say swerving and abruptly braking is way way to danger. I can not do it for small animals any more. I was split second from hitting directly in green line cars and the was over 50 mph to. Only quick reflexes saved me.
Btw I know it does not amount to much but when I was in twenties played pinball for money and when video racing games show up played it for money. When I came to the USA in the late nineties was capable at "Sega rely GT" video game in Mall of America (so probably thousands of others drove there that game) wrote my name in 10 best results after 4 or 5 try. Would sit in machine and after 4 or 5 try would be "congratulation you get (say) third best result, write your name". There was, as I remember 8 machines of "Sega rally Gt" and I was capable to do one of 10 best results at each.
Since you are mentioning it I would have to agree.
From what I recall during driver education third is about defensive driving and “leaving an out.”
Always anticipating that some critter (or worse human) would come out from nowhere and you’d have to make an evasive maneuver.
leaving and out: where you could change lanes without breaking, hitting a car next to you or otherwise creating some other hazard/danger.
Have you seen YouTube videos for “BMW emergency lane change?” Those are great because they show you the importance of practicing and feeling comfortable with such maneuvers and also the importance of keeping a car maintained (brakes, suspension, tires) to have the same impulse response in those situations.
Most important thing though is that you’re still here…
This is what happened to me in March. I was driving south at University. There is speed limit 30mph and because building was at corner so cross is not visible I went down from 40 to 35mph, as I always do in such situation. Had green light. All suddenly blue line, an idiot at bicycle, some drunk black guy in 50ties, come into my line at full speed. It was snow at the corner of road so he wasn't even close to edge. He was approximately 3' inside. I did swerve, rather change line because wasn't so abbrupt, to left and avoid hit him. If I stayed in line even with breaking would hit him. When I swerve in this case I didn't brake. Nobody was in left line in my direction and behind me. However, it was like 6 cars in 2 north lines waiting for their green light. Given what happened Wednesday I will not hit brakes and swerve in this situation. I do swerve and did quite a few times. Brake and swerve it was first time Wednesday night and do not look good.
Most important thing though is that you’re still here…
Thanks, but it wasn't so danger. However, I would not advise anyone to test his luck in this way. I'm a carpenter contractor but like employee did work at skyscrapers and such. I know very well that we all come to world with a few happy tokens and you are not advised to test how many.
Photo is here where I jump up and where I exit back. Red arrows. Rear tire that gets stuck with dirt I had to replace. Tire is still good. Will use in future.
