A lorry driver risked his life to dodge a deer that ran across the road in front of him. The deer escaped, but the timber lorry overturned and the driver was injured.
The accident occurred in Italian region of Trentino on Monday morning. The manoeuvre was successful as the animal escaped, but the vehicle flipped over and the driver injured, reports local news website La Voce del Trentino.
The Fire and Rescue Service secured the vehicle, while the driver, who managed to get out of the overturned truck by himself, was transferred to the hospital.
What should a driver do when a deer darts in front of the vehicle?
Driving trainers usually advise students not to swerve when an animal darts in front of them. It is of course easier said than done: avoiding hitting an animal is in human nature, therefore it is hard not to swerve when such an incident happens.
However, by braking suddenly or swerving, a driver can create a new hazard by hitting a tree, guard rail or another vehicle, warns Jim Taylor, head of claims customer experience for Farmers Insurance, in an interview.
The best way to avoid hitting a deer is:
- to stay in the middle lane (if there is one),
- to increase visibility from the side of the road. If there’s no oncoming traffic, use the high beams at night.
- Stay buckled up, avoid swerving, heed deer crossing signs
Photo credit @ Vigili del Fuogo