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Thread ID: 86952 2008-02-03 00:38:00 to swerve or not to swerve ? drcspy (146) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
636598 2008-02-03 00:38:00 been reading a post on trademe and someone wrecked their car swerving to avoid a possum. Stupid thing to do in my book.

Anyway speaking of books does anyone remember or do you know what the road code says about that ?.....I'm pretty sure it says DONT DO IT.

I have heard of other situations where people have been killed or almost killed and wrecked vehicles doing this whats the general opinion ?
drcspy (146)
636599 2008-02-03 00:42:00 It's a possum. Run the bloody Aussies over!!! :xmouth: bob_doe_nz (92)
636600 2008-02-03 00:47:00 Take it out.... i would not risk my life or car...... They are pests... password (5384)
636601 2008-02-03 01:04:00 I'd swerve ... to try and run it over. gibler (49)
636602 2008-02-03 01:23:00 Kill Possum. Save Car. beeswax34 (63)
636603 2008-02-03 01:51:00 You need the road code to answer this question?
Pretty much qualifies you to be a pedestrian. :waughh:
R2x1 (4628)
636604 2008-02-03 03:02:00 I also thought the road code had something in it about how running down straying pedestrians or animals rather than swerving is better than risking damage to your car in an accident. But I've had a quick flick through last year's copy and couldn't find it.

It's instinctive to try and avoid things even if they are possums.
Mercury (1316)
636605 2008-02-03 03:21:00 Anyway speaking of books does anyone remember or do you know what the road code says about that ?.....I'm pretty sure it says DONT DO IT.


No idea what the road code says but it's a bad idea to swerve for any small animal, including cats, dogs, possums, rabbits, ducks or whatever. Slow down and stop if you can do so safely, maybe, but never swerve.

I would swerve for larger animals if it was safe to do so, because they can do a lot of damage to your vehicle if hit.

If you swerve to avoid an animal and hit something, including road barriers, you can be charged for careless driving. :rolleyes:
FoxyMX (5)
636606 2008-02-03 03:22:00 It's instinctive to try and avoid things even if they are possums.I agree. Your natural instinct is to avoid hitting something and sometimes you have very little time to identify what is on the road and what action (or lack of action) is required.

I ran a very large rat over the other day. It was at night an on an open road. I was proud of myself that although I physically jerked in reaction when I spotted it, I didn't swerve or make any other erratic movement on the road. Doing 100 Km/h in a stream of traffic and with oncoming traffic it could have been nasty if I had reacted badly.
Jen (38)
636607 2008-02-03 04:50:00 Don't swerve for rats, they can duck real well. Throw a cat or a fox terrier at the little sod.
If you ran one over, I have to award you 90 bonus points.
Managing 100 KM/H in Auckland's environs is pretty noteworthy too.
R2x1 (4628)
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