Moose are very dangerous and have a good chance of killing you if you hit one. Moose are tall enough that in a standard car they tend to fall directly into the windshield.
Due to the high probability (example 1, example 2…) of a collision with Moose (and potentially fatal consequences), Saab has conducted crash tests with Moose.
The latest in a string of such accidents took place this weekend in Poland. 46-year-old Saab driver was injured (injuries were non-life–threatening) in an accident on the national road No. 17 after the Saab directed hit a moose.
Saab driver did not manage to stop the car and collided with an animal passing by the road. The road incidents with participation of forest animals occur quite often. Drivers passing through forest areas must be aware of the caution.
Myth: Speed Up When You Hit A Moose
Among the drivers there is a popular myth: “Speed Up When You Hit A Moose!”
And at first glance, this statement is not logical. During only one year, those collisions accounted for six driver and passenger fatalities in Alaska, according to the Alaska Highway Safety Office.
Ford Taurus did not “survive” the collision with Moose
Some believe that accelerating to hit a moose is safer than slowing down, because the high-speed crash might launch the beast clear over the car. MythBusters Kari Byron, Grant Imahara and Tori Belleci drove headfirst into this theory to see if it’s worth its salt. To ensure that no moose were harmed in the name of science, the MythBusters constructed a 6-foot-tall, 620-pound solid rubber moose nicknamed Lucy. They didn’t bother to crown her with antlers, since lady moose don’t sport the horns, and the male bulls shed their headgear during the winter.
The MythBusters steered a car motoring at 45 miles per hour into Lucy three times: once slowing down, once speeding up and once while maintaining the same speed. The wreckage revealed that slowing down is by far the safest option when running into a moose. Faster speeds deliver a greater force of impact, which the moose absorbs and delivers with a more powerful, damaging smackdown on top of the auto.
See this interesting episode:
