Consideration for Animals When Driving

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A common stereotype is that those of us on the spectrum lack empathy. Of course, we all know that's simply not true. We just don't express it as expected all the time.

Today I was following another vehicle on my lunch break. A deer ran across the road some distance ahead, and so I did what I always do - I slowed down and watched more carefully for other deer that were likely to follow. The other vehicle plowed on ahead, and I saw them brake suddenly and swerve a bit when another deer (predictably) came running on to the asphalt. Thankfully there was no collision.

Here's the weird thing: The second deer was out in an open field to the right, and had started running in a wide arc, clearly with a high potential for intersecting with the road ahead. I don't see how the other driver could have missed seeing it, especially in light of the fact that he/ she must have been alerted to the presence of a deer herd by the first animal. Yet they chose not to alter their speed or demonstrate extra caution in light of that fact.

Frankly, I'm more concerned about injuring or killing a deer needlessly than I am about what damage I might incur to my truck. And I recognize there are times when a deer comes out of nowhere, and there's nothing anyone could do about it. But what this other driver did today is typical of a pattern I've observed countless times over the years. They demonstrated a complete disregard for the welfare of the deer, as well as a total lack of insight into how animals are likely to behave.

I don't understand people very well at times, but there's a lot about animal behavior that I seem to grasp intuitively. Has anyone else felt the same connection to animals, or the same bewilderment at human behavior with respect to them?

Most people lack consideration for animals even when they aren't driving. Most people also don't know much about the behavior of wild animals and would not think to look for more deer after nearly hitting one.

I will stop to let squirrels and rabbits cross the street. My own dog was hit by a snow plow when I was younger, so I think that might be part of it. The guy who hit my dog was very sympathetic about the situation and he felt terrible.

When I tested for my driver's permit, one of the questions I missed was something like "If an animal darts in front of your vehicle's path, what should you do?" The options were "swerve to the right," "swerve to the left," or "hit the animal." I wasn't sure which one it was, but I picked one of the swerves. I was horrified when I learned the correct answer was to hit the animal. I would never do that.

I don't think I've been in a car or bus before where the driver hasn't slowed down to avoid hitting an animal on the road.

I hate it when Aspies stereotype NTs of not caring about animals.

Where did you draw that conclusion from my post? I never claimed to know if the other driver was NT or not. This is just a behavior that I've observed on multiple occasions by people in general. There are lots of NTs who love animals.

That's the usual advice, since it's considered less grievous to kill an animal than to risk taking a human life. If I had no choice but to run over a dog to avoid hitting an oncoming car, then I'd be morally obligated to choose the former. (I wouldn't feel good about it, though.)

But the situation I'm describing above is when someone could easily avoid hitting an animal with a little defensive driving. I just think of animals as other vehicles I need to watch out for, and I do my best - whenever possible - to give them a wide berth. If a critter darts out of the woods without warning, then the rule you mentioned would certainly apply.

That is sad when a pet gets hit. Decades ago, when I was still a teenager, I backed up and accidentally ran over a kitten. I felt absolutely sick about it for a long time afterward.

I think most people, aside from sociopaths, don't want to run over an animal deliberately. But I think a lot of people wrongly assume that an animal will move out of their path, or they simply lack understanding of how animals behave. I always err on the side of caution, and when I see animals near the road I assume there's a strong likelihood that they'll step into my path. So I adjust my driving habits preemptively.

And that's what I find incomprehensible. I'm no wildlife expert, but it doesn't take a genius to know that deer typically gather in herds.

I ran over a brown rat last night while driving, and felt sick for not being able to swerve in time.
It had already crossed the lane for the oncoming traffic, and it was my outside wheels that got him.

When I hit a little bird during the summer I felt sick for much longer, he got stuck in the front grill on my car.

I think there are many people who have an fondness for animals, but some may place more value on their lives due to personal experiences influenced by their neurology/biology and cultural environment.

Some others do not understand the basic flight reaction in animals, that they aren't capable of thinking like humans, you know the 'it's only a dumb animal' attitude.

More so I think it's just not knowing any better because the ecological relationship between us and animals seems to be of less value in first world cultures.

I do think that's a huge part of it right there. I grew up in a rural area, and I've always felt a strong attachment to nature: trees, animals, even rocks and streams.

When I went home to visit in New Hampshire back in May, I did some hiking in multiple locations, and I was alarmed to notice that an unusual number of white birch trees have fallen in the woods up there. I'm not sure if it's disease or climate change, but something is definitely killing these trees off in unusually large numbers in that area - also in nearby Vermont. I mentioned it to other people in person and on Facebook, but very few people seem to have noticed or care. White birches are one of my favorite trees - all the more precious now that I live in Tennessee where they don't grow natively.

I guess to most people, even native New Englanders, they're more interested in what new chain stores are coming to the area than what's happening in the woods. And it's probably the same with animals, even though I don't understand it.

I feel awful when I see a dead animal on the road, and take care not to ever hit one. I couldn't live with myself if I hit an animal. A cat darted out into the street once when I was driving, and I slammed on the brakes. Thankfully, the cat made it safely to the other side of the street. My heart still pounds when I think of it.

My dog survived fortunately, but my mom had a dog as a kid who was hit and didn't survive. My good friend hit a tree two years ago after swerving to avoid a deer.

I live in a very wooded area and there are all kinds of animals to keep your eyes open for. For me there is no hurry. I can adjust to make sure whatever animal gets across to the other side o.k. I'll get out and help the turtles if I think they are in danger of getting run over. We all have to live here together. It feels a lot better to be respectful of the animal than to try and mow it down.

I will say that it makes me sad when I see people swerve to try and hit animals on the road. Hell, I have seen people change course to run over animals that are already dead. It's that their first reaction is to kill; a bit scary too.

Same goes for bugs that find their way into the house. They get scooped up in a cup and go back outside. No need for them to die because they zigged when they should have zagged.

a couple things - first, I think it's well documented at this point that Aspies can have very intense relationships with animals. I know I do. And it's qualitatively different than everything that NTs have described to me. Not all NTs, maybe not most NTs, but many NTs. So I think I feel different about animals because of my ASD.

I have to avert my eyes when I see a dead animal on the road. I can't look at it, it freaks me out. I'm vegetarian and was vegan for many years after I learned about how food animals are mistreated. I have pets and have a very intense relationships with them.

I've swerved many a time, and would always swerve. I'd probably swerve into another car, unfortunately, not consciously but I have a feeling that would happen. I think I hit a rabbit a few years ago. I was horrified. I drove back but it was in the middle of the night and I couldn't see anything. Then, a month ago I ran over something. It darted out so quickly and so close to the front of my car that I had NO chance to react. None. And I was HORRIFIED. I still am. I felt so bad for weeks afterwards and am still somewhat haunted by it.

I drive very carefully and always will to look out for animals. I'm stopping all the time for squirrels. People who try and hit animals or who are cruel to animals in general suck, in my opinion. They've got something wrong with them - not me.

My 3 cents...

I think that is like if you're driving on a highway or at higher speeds to where it would be too dangerous to swerve or stop. I wonder what you're supposed to do if it's a human...it would be dangerous to swerve to avoid a person if they decided it would be a good idea to dart out onto a highway for instance as well.