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Deer Strike information

2linby

2linby

Guest
Guest
In light of Davo Jones deer strike I received this information from a fellow TEAM OREGON MC Instructor in regards to deer strikes. via state farm, via ldrider. http://www.statefarm.com/_pdf/deer_map.pdf and, in Wisconsin: http://www.dot.state.wi.us/safety/motorist/crashfacts/docs/deerfacts.pdf "In 2008, while only 3.3% of passenger cars and 1.6% of utility trucks involved in deer crashes resulted in a fatality or injury to an occupant, 73.0% of motorcycle-deer crashes resulted in a fatality or injury to a motorcyclist. Seven of the 10 motor vehicle/deer crash fatalities in 2008 were motorcyclists." Too bad they don't have a map showing the probability of oil/diesel spills.. AKA "2linby" That's 2-lin-by folks! Northwest Area Director COG #5539 AMA #927779 IBA #15034 TEAM OREGON MC Instructor http://community.webshots.com/user/2linby http://tinyurl.com/njas8 (IBA BunBurner Gold Trip) http://tinyurl.com/lwelx (Alaska trip)
 
I make you one out of duck tape pine boards! That would add to the aesthetics of the Connie:) I have had so many close calls with deer in Minnesota and Wisconsin, I finally broke down and purchased an air horn. That will hopefully help for the ones I see. Deer make me more nervous than other cars. http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/djmarrs_bucket/VisitedProvincesMap2-1.jpg?t=1264819451
 
Sunday 3-14-10, 11:00 AM and a beautiful morning for a ride. I am obeying the 40 mph speed limit while riding on a country road. I enter an S curve that curves first to the right then to the left. I begin my exit out of the left curve when jumping down the wooded hill to my right comes a doe and her offspring. They stop in my lane to avoid the truck approaching in the opposite lane. She is about 40 feet in front of me. I try to straighten up, down shift and hit the brakes. Not enough time,not enough room. My rear wheel slides out to the right and I am suddenly sliding along the asphalt watching as my connie slides on her left side gaining distance on me. The Ford Explorer approaching head on slows and pulls off the road onto the shoulder. The doe and offspring scamper off as I come to a stop. I think,"Cool, I'm OK." I jump up, make sure that all my limbs are still working. I'm OK. The driver of the Explorer asks if I'm alright. "I'm fine" I shout, still wearing my full face helmet. I am thankful for the layers of textiles,body armor and gloves I am wearing. I feel embarrassed for having lost the bike. As I walk over to the connie I hear her still running. I turn her off. "Can I give you a hand?" the Explorer driver asks. "Could you give me a hand picking up my bike?" I ask. I pick up the left foot peg and tank bag. I put the peg in the bag then pick up the bike. I put her on the stand and give her a good look over. I thank the Explorer diver and start up the connie. Fortunately my home is I am only ten minutes away. I am able to ride the bike home resting my left foot on the engine casing. It is only later that day after visiting the ER that I learn that my right thumb is broken at a 45 degree angle and will require pins to reset. I also learn of a small fracture in my left elbow. The bike has a little road rash on the fairing but the fairing extender kept most of the fairing from being damaged. I'm sore and a little swollen but mostly grateful. It could have been much worse. I will be out of action for 6 weeks, but hey, I'm alive and the bike is too. Be careful out there. Spring came early to the Pacific Northwest. As the weather gets better your chances of seeing, or not seeing deer in time increase. iring
 
WOW! Glad to hear that you and the bike will be okay (especially you :)). You're right about this being the time of year for the deer and the antelope to get out and play. Lots of new fawns too so everyone needs to be especially alert.
 
My friend hit a deer on his Magna a few years ago. He didn't brake any bones. But the skin/muscle injuries were bad. He doesn't ride since then and has scars for life. He was lucky. Bionic Bob COG & AMA member First C14 CDA member #0220 2008 C14 & 2003 Mean Streak
2638311280103513287fDmUTZ_th.jpg
 
Mitch: Glad to hear you are OK, that is for the most part. It could have been a lot worse. That thumb will most likely end up reminding you of the event for a long time. Now as to avoiding deer, I try not to ride at dusk or dawn. Now in hunting season I've found them active around noon, they aren't totally dumb. Also when I know I am in deer country, I do slow down a bit and am far more cautious. I also have deer whistles installed just under the front fairing. Now I know many do not believe in the deer whistles, but I've gone by deer (plural) both with and without the whistles. With the whistles they just seem to watch me go by, rarely even take a step. Without them they usually jump and run. Even had a doe to jump over me one day, we were both surprised. Now there is one more hunting season that has almost as much danger, turkey, and it opens soon in Jawja. I weny by a field last week and it had well over a dozen of them in it. This was less than 100' from the highway. But were too busy eating to be concerned with anything on the road. You just gotta be on the lookout for critters of all types. tcars John
 
Boy Mitch, you know how to kick off the riding season! Glad to hear you are albeit the thumb and elbow, OK. Bikes can be fixed easy enough. In retrospect is there anything that you could think of that you could have done to avoid the crash? I know you've gone over and over and over it, but just as a learning exercise for everyone else. Get well soon man! AKA "2linby" That's 2-lin-by folks! Northwest Area Director COG #5539 AMA #927779 IBA #15034 TEAM OREGON MC Instructor 133K and counting! http://community.webshots.com/user/2linby http://tinyurl.com/njas8 (IBA BunBurner Gold Trip) http://tinyurl.com/lwelx (Alaska trip)
 
"In retrospect is there anything that you could think of that you could have done to avoid the crash?" 1.Always expect the unexpected. I do this most of the time I ride. I typically have a constant internal dialog "what would I do if..." That Sunday it was a beautiful day, I had traveled that same stretch of road only 1 1/2 hours earlier and many times before without incident and so I let my guard down. I am a daily rider. The low activity of deer during winter had allowed me to grow complacent. Let "Semper Vigilans" or Always vigilant be your motto. 2. Had I fully straightened up the bike as I came out of that turn before hitting the brakes? I thought I had but guess I didn't or my rear wheel wouldn't have skidded our to the right. Would I have been able to stop without hitting the deer if the rear wheel hadn't slipped out from underneath me? The deer were 1 & 1/2 - 2 car lengths in front of me when she and jr. bounded out of the bushes and stopped on the pavement. I knew did I not want to hit the deer for fear of being launched. Brakes good, fresh,under 1000 miles,Dunlop 205 on the rear, guess it's debatable. Even at 40 mph things can happen mighty fast. The Speed limit was 40, recommended speed for the curves was 35. Perhaps at 35 I could avoided the who mess. Curves on a bike is a big temptation. And what about the deer? What caused her to come flying down the hill as that moment? Stop me before I become too neurotic over this and let me close with Semper Vigilans. PS The elbow is bruised not fractured. Thanks to NASA and everyone else who instrumental in the creation of the fabric and armor that separated me from the asphalt. Thank you all for the support and well wishes. If my accident serves as a reminder for others and saves a life then it was worth it.
 
I'm always confused by the saying, "Expect the unexpected." If you're expecting it, how can it be unexpected. ;) At 40 mph it's unlikely you could've stopped in 1.5 car lengths unless emergency stops are something you practice daily. I think your best bet is the "Ever Vigilant." The start of the "riding season" is when we should all go out and practice our emergency manuvers (emergency braking and swerving). Again, glad that you're going to be okay.
 
Mitch, Thaks for the post. As always we do need to be vigilant and it sounds like under the circumstances you did what you had to do. Hope you heal quickly and put this one behind you. AKA "2linby" That's 2-lin-by folks! Northwest Area Director COG #5539 AMA #927779 IBA #15034 TEAM OREGON MC Instructor 133K and counting! http://community.webshots.com/user/2linby http://tinyurl.com/njas8 (IBA BunBurner Gold Trip) http://tinyurl.com/lwelx (Alaska trip)
 
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