Put yourself in this truck driver’s place. If something like this happens to you, are you prepared? This is a true story. We found ourselves in the middle of it today, as witnesses.
Rural Kentucky. I-71. Light traffic. 10:30 AM. Dry roads. Moderate cross winds. Mostly cloudy skies. Road condition good.
You are under load, proceeding at the speed limit, 65 MPH, in the right lane. Without warning, a full-grown deer, runs full speed up out of the median, across the left lane and in front of the car that is in front of you. The car has a single occupant, the driver, a male about age 30. He stomps on his brakes, but too late to avoid hitting the deer. You stomp on your brakes, but too late to avoid hitting the car.
All in the same instant, the deer is thrown into the air and lands on the left shoulder. The rear end of the car is crushed by your truck bumper such that everything behind the rear window is pushed into the back seat. The car goes into a high-speed spin and into a deep ditch on the right, coming to rest straddling the ditch. You, uninjured, bring your truck to a stop on the right shoulder ahead of where the car came to rest.
Before you can even stop and get out of your truck, you see the car driver is in his seat but he is not moving. The deer is convulsing and gasping heavily for breath. Three motorists stop on the right shoulder behind your truck and rush on foot to the car. One remains inside his vehicle and starts taking pictures. Some make cell phone calls. Gawkers slow to look, passing by in both the right and left lane. They gaze at you, others, and the vehicles involved.
You set your truck parking brakes, climb out the driver’s side and walk quickly around the front of your truck to check on the car driver. On your way, you see minor damage to your truck; a hole in your grill and the bumper bent in close to your front right tire. You are emotionally shaken and your heart is racing. This is not something you have been through before.
As you walk quickly toward the car driver and witnesses, what thoughts would be racing through your mind? What would you do next?
If you were that truck driver, would you be prepared?
If your answer is yes, how do you know?
Rural Kentucky. I-71. Light traffic. 10:30 AM. Dry roads. Moderate cross winds. Mostly cloudy skies. Road condition good.
You are under load, proceeding at the speed limit, 65 MPH, in the right lane. Without warning, a full-grown deer, runs full speed up out of the median, across the left lane and in front of the car that is in front of you. The car has a single occupant, the driver, a male about age 30. He stomps on his brakes, but too late to avoid hitting the deer. You stomp on your brakes, but too late to avoid hitting the car.
All in the same instant, the deer is thrown into the air and lands on the left shoulder. The rear end of the car is crushed by your truck bumper such that everything behind the rear window is pushed into the back seat. The car goes into a high-speed spin and into a deep ditch on the right, coming to rest straddling the ditch. You, uninjured, bring your truck to a stop on the right shoulder ahead of where the car came to rest.
Before you can even stop and get out of your truck, you see the car driver is in his seat but he is not moving. The deer is convulsing and gasping heavily for breath. Three motorists stop on the right shoulder behind your truck and rush on foot to the car. One remains inside his vehicle and starts taking pictures. Some make cell phone calls. Gawkers slow to look, passing by in both the right and left lane. They gaze at you, others, and the vehicles involved.
You set your truck parking brakes, climb out the driver’s side and walk quickly around the front of your truck to check on the car driver. On your way, you see minor damage to your truck; a hole in your grill and the bumper bent in close to your front right tire. You are emotionally shaken and your heart is racing. This is not something you have been through before.
As you walk quickly toward the car driver and witnesses, what thoughts would be racing through your mind? What would you do next?
If you were that truck driver, would you be prepared?
If your answer is yes, how do you know?
