Evasive Maneuvers when towing
I have been travel trailering for several years now. I always try to think of what to do in certain situations on the road. I have always tried to remember certain key things when towing. (1) I ca...
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lots of good comments. On wildlife, other than watching carefully, not much one can do. However if it's between swerving to avoid wildlife or hitting them, probably better to brake hard and hit than risk something worse with evasive manuevers.
Son was pulling a 35' trailer for his work with the state on a two lane road. there were in a convoy, everyone spaced well apart. He saw a deer come out of the woods and into the ditch ahead and began slowing as quick as reasonably possible but kept in his lane. At the last minute the deer jumped into the lane, he didn't try to avoid, got off the brakes to help maintain steering control at let the deer hit him. deer got the mirror, passenger door, passenger fender.
Needless to say he had to fill out a state accident report including why he didn't take further more drastic evasive manuevers to avoid the deer. His comment was
1) two lane road with blind curve ahead
2) known traffic behind him
3) you don't make fast lane changes pulling a 35' trailer.
4) rather hit the deer than risk injury to myself, passenger and possibly to occupants of vehicles behind me if vehicle lost control.
Response from investigator was you did exactly the best thing in this situation.
IMHO your most often better off hitting animals, road debris etc than to take fast evasive manuvers.
And watch for those folks who decide to pull out from a stop sign on the side of a highway thinking you'll be able to slow down. NOT!
When your pushing 60ft overall and 20K lbs, evasive manuevers are an oxymoron, or a recipe for a big disaster.
Son was pulling a 35' trailer for his work with the state on a two lane road. there were in a convoy, everyone spaced well apart. He saw a deer come out of the woods and into the ditch ahead and began slowing as quick as reasonably possible but kept in his lane. At the last minute the deer jumped into the lane, he didn't try to avoid, got off the brakes to help maintain steering control at let the deer hit him. deer got the mirror, passenger door, passenger fender.
Needless to say he had to fill out a state accident report including why he didn't take further more drastic evasive manuevers to avoid the deer. His comment was
1) two lane road with blind curve ahead
2) known traffic behind him
3) you don't make fast lane changes pulling a 35' trailer.
4) rather hit the deer than risk injury to myself, passenger and possibly to occupants of vehicles behind me if vehicle lost control.
Response from investigator was you did exactly the best thing in this situation.
IMHO your most often better off hitting animals, road debris etc than to take fast evasive manuvers.
And watch for those folks who decide to pull out from a stop sign on the side of a highway thinking you'll be able to slow down. NOT!
When your pushing 60ft overall and 20K lbs, evasive manuevers are an oxymoron, or a recipe for a big disaster.
