What should you do ?

[gov]

Pheasants, Pigeons and squirrels get run over, I would rather minor or no frontal damage, than a shunt up the arse from the following vehicle.

Bit harsh mate As it happens I was driving our VW Campervan so if I hadn't braked they may have gone right through underneath if they were quick :roll: I may be a bit soft in the head but I would always react in this way - the irony is that the pheasant will probably get shot anyway.

 

[buzyg]

Have had so many furry critters try Hara-kiri in front of the car. I try to steer so they miss the wheels. I don't brake any more, unless it's a Bull charging at the side of an Asra Hire car or a Roe Deer trying to leap onto the bonnet of the Zed. Many are no more.

 

[Angie4m]

Seeing the mess one made to the front of my Dads 5 series, it completely smashed the kidney grills to bits and the mess was just horrendous. Nothing that couldn't be fixed but an inconvenience. If I know I'm in an area with pheasants, I'm on high alert!

 

[buzyg]

If I know I'm in an area with pheasants, I'm on high alert!

Don't move down here Angie. You'd be on continuous alert. Charlie and his mates would see to that :lol:

 

[RickRob]

How far up the size scale is a stop warranted?

Mouse, rat, squirrel, cat, pheasant, small dog, badger, large dog, deer, cow, horse. I think mine would be stop for cat upwards. Mrs R assures me that she would stop for a mouse! I daren't get into a discussion as to the break-point (brake-point?) between a gnat and a mouse!

As previously noted, if you pause to consider what any vehicle behind is doing, then it's too late.

 

[buzyg]

How far up the size scale is a stop warranted?

As previously noted, if you pause to consider what any vehicle behind is doing, then it's too late.

Agree with that. once the choice is made to brake, then it's middle pedal to the break traction point. Then if things are looking in control ahead a quick glance in the rear view mirror and ease off braking to prevent a pile up. :wink:

 

[gov]

How far up the size scale is a stop warranted?

Mouse, rat, squirrel, cat, pheasant, small dog, badger, large dog, deer, cow, horse. I think mine would be stop for cat upwards. Mrs R assures me that she would stop for a mouse! I daren't get into a discussion as to the break-point (brake-point?) between a gnat and a mouse!

As previously noted, if you pause to consider what any vehicle behind is doing, then it's too late.

Was on a Greek island once at the time of year when hundreds of frogs crossed a particular road - all the Brits were stopping , getting out of their hire cars and shooing the frogs on their way - then a Greek Taxi came through non stop and splatted loads

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Driving examiner answer: "If you were checking behind regularly you'd know whether it was safe or not to do an emergency stop or not."

Even if they are too close to safely do an emergency stop, you may still decide to do so to save hitting something/someone anyway.

I'd have done an emergency stop for a human and some animals (i.e. things that would do me/my car harm).

Depends on the human...

I witnessed Supra vs crazed donkey. Not much of either escaped undamaged.

 

[Angie4m]

If I know I'm in an area with pheasants, I'm on high alert!

Don't move down here Angie. You'd be on continuous alert. Charlie and his mates would see to that :lol:

I had to go to a range out the back of beyond. If the single track road, pot holes and high hedges weren't enough of a trauma.......when I almost reached the range I met a field of pheasants! I then had to drive at a crawl through them. Luckily they just scattered away without issue.

The backroad from Livingston to Edinburgh is rife with them. I don't tend to drive that way often

 

[jaRED]

Difficult one. I try to slow down / stop if I can. I did once run a rabbit over as it ran out on me at the very last minute. I hated doing it but I always bear in mind that a friend of a friend was killed on a country road and the thoughts at the time were that she swerved to avoid a pheasant and lost control.
not sure about in your test though

 

[firebobby]

Pheasants, Pigeons and squirrels get run over, I would rather minor or no frontal damage, than a shunt up the arse from the following vehicle.

Bit harsh mate As it happens I was driving our VW Campervan so if I hadn't braked they may have gone right through underneath if they were quick :roll: I may be a bit soft in the head but I would always react in this way - the irony is that the pheasant will probably get shot anyway.

Not really, I shoot them too