Seabees, Sensational Cars, Statistic?

I spent the weekend in Moline, IL with the 62nd Battalion of the Navy Seabees, WWII, Iwo Jima survivors. This is Dad's group of fellow Seabees. It was fun as usual. Only 6 veterans were able to come but there were about 35 or so of us with all the second generation family and friends.

Glenn and I drove down together and it was a beautiful drive. The SW part of Wisconsin is such pretty farmland and rolling hills and bluffs from the lack of glacier activity there. This Grotto in the town of Dickeyville was really interesting, somebody spent a LOT of time on this.

Saturday afternoon in Davenport, IA, we visited a private car collection owned by the Dahl Family. Quite the display of vehicles and only open to special invited guests, so it was a fun opportunity.

You had to love these cars even if you don't really care too much about cars.

The drive home was long, pretty, but long. I got home about 10pm after dropping Glenn off in Spring Valley. The prima dona kitties were glad to see me and I was happy to be safely home.

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I was wondering what the statistics are about hitting a deer on the roads of Wisconsin. I'm putting on quite a few miles and see quite a few deer along the road. Am I destined to be a statistic?

I've been reading about how to avoid serious injury in the case of a deer / car meeting.

• http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/2004/oct04/deercol.htm
• Stay aware and alert – That's the advice given by Dave Collins, Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Patrol. Deer are more active in fall. They move between resting and feeding areas at dawn and dusk when it is hard to see, and they blend into the landscape. Crash reports verify deer accidents are most likely to occur between 5-10 p.m. in fall and early winter; 8 p.m. to midnight in spring through summer.
• Slow down, heed road signs, and drive defensively – Roads that cut between forested patches, roadside brush, openings and valleys in farm fields form natural paths for deer. Road segments with histories of crashes are often marked with yellow deer crossing signs. Slow down to give yourself more time to react in these areas. Allow more space between vehicles. Wear safety belts and make sure all your passengers are buckled in.
• Watch for deer sign – Collins added that "reading" the landscape and using your peripheral vision to watch for reflections in deer's eyes or roadside movement can give you an early warning of nearby deer activity. If you have passengers, have them scan the road edge as well. If you see one deer, slow down. Deer often travel in groups: where one deer crosses the road, others will follow. Watch the deer and the roadside; slow down as best you can; and alert other vehicles with your lights and horn, which will also prompt the deer to keep moving or head back into the brush.
• Keep your car/truck in good repair – Check that your tires and brakes are in good condition and be sure headlights are properly aimed. Trucks and SUVs ride higher, so check that headlights hit the roadway evenly and don't shine in the eyes of oncoming traffic.
• Remain in your lane – "In an emergency situation, this can be the hardest piece of advice to practice, but it definitely saves lives," said Ted Gamble, president of AAA Wisconsin. Hit your brakes, hit your horn and hit the deer if you must, but don't swerve. The chances of serious injury are much greater when cars swerve to avoid a deer, Gamble said. Swerving into traffic and hitting an incoming vehicle, swerving to the side and hitting a fixed object, or leaving the road are all more dangerous than hitting a deer. Deer can accelerate from 0 to 30 mph in 1.5 seconds; if you continue in a straight line and brake, the deer may be gone before you reach the point of impact.
• Forty percent of the deer-vehicle crashes occur from mid-October through November.