A 3-minute lesson from the Vermont course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Hitting a moose or deer can kill you as well as the animal. Knowing when they move and how they behave in your headlights helps you avoid one. The same page covers another hazard: aggressive drivers, and why you should never try to get even.
Know the rule
Drive cautiously where deer and moose crossing signs are posted. Moose and deer are most likely on highways in the late evening, at night and in the early morning.
Headlights may make a deer freeze in place, or bound toward its habitat. A deer on the side of the road away from its habitat may bolt in front of you.
At dusk a deer darts across the road ahead and disappears into the woods. Slow down and watch the same side, because a second deer is likely to follow.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Why are collisions with moose generally more deadly than collisions with deer?
Moose weigh over 1,000 pounds and can land on top of the vehicle
Moose are more likely to freeze in headlights
Moose travel in larger herds than deer
Moose are more common on Vermont roads
Answer: Moose weigh over 1,000 pounds and can land on top of the vehicle
Moose weigh over a thousand pounds and, being taller, can land on the vehicle with crushing force.
