by Turner, Stack & CaplinSplit Second Decisions – Animals in the Road
According to the Insurance Institute Highway Safety (IIHS), drivers are generally safer by hitting an animal instead of swerving to avoid it. However, the size of an animal compared to the size of your vehicle matters. A good general rule is: if the animal is shorter than the hood of your car and you don’t have time take evasive action, keep driving; but if the animal is taller than the hood, you can try to avoid it, but it still might be better to hit the animal.