First Emergency Maneuver

[jpod]

I was doing 50 MPH on two lane black top yesterday when a huge wild turkey strolled out into the road. There was no time to do anything except slam on the brakes and swerve to the left. I did this and avoided hitting one of the USA's would be national birds.

The point of posting about this relatively minor event is to comment on the CRVs emergency maneuvering. During this simultaneous hard braking and swerving I had complete control. There was no skidding, and only a bit of nose dive and no sense of impending loss of control. No noise. No sweat. No ruffled feathers.

Like repelling, this was one of those low danger but potentially high stress situations which can engender confidence. The wild turkey could have been another car, a deer, or a kid on an ATV. In any event, I'm more confident than ever that the CRV cannot only survive a crash, but can very handily help us avoid a crash. Thanks again Honda.

JPO

[SniperD]

Great post. I've yet to have a situation that required me to jam the brakes like that but it's good to know I'll be able to handle it. I plan on doing some in control slides in the snow next winter (in a parking lot of course) to feel my CR-V out.

[2RedV's]

You were very lucky.

NEVER, EVER, swerve to avoid an animal. Many single vehicle roll-over accidents occur as a result of people trying to avoid the animal, go off the road, hit the ditch and roll the vehicle. People die this way.

If you do wreck your vehicle, off the roadway, your insurance company will rightfully assume that you simply made a mistake and caused the wreck yourself.
If you hit the animal and stay on the roadway, it isn't your fault...

[davos]

Well, unless it's a cow.
I almost hit one at night in Arizona - just managed to stop few feet short of several cows having night-time randevouz in the middle of the road.:eek: Nothing wakes you up and keep alert till your destination better than facing something on the road what should be on your plate as a steak.
I don't think hitting cow head on would be my preference to take my chances and try to avoid it.
Having said so I totally agree - trying to save animal while putting yourself and any other road users at risk is something I wold not recommend.

[GoGreen]

2RedV's - You are spot on.

Many years ago I was driving home late at night when a cat ran out into the road,
I swerved hard to avoid the cat, but when I brought it back, I overcompensated, spun around backward, hit the ditch and rolled the car.

The good news is I was driving a '75 Honda Civic and there was very little damage done.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and was able to walk away.
I presume the cat was OK too. :p

Fast forward to Spring of 2005 - driving home late at night when 3 deer ran straight across the road in front of me.
I plowed into all 3 of them - caused nearly $4000 damage to the car, but insurance says not my fault.

jpod - good feeling to know you would be to do an emergency maneuver if the occasion called for it.

Honda sure makes a good car... ;)