[ApresNY]

I am driving through your beautiful state soon. I will be going to Bennington, Manchester, Middlebury and Burlington. (and Waterbury) Please help me with the following questions.

Should I be concerned about deer crossing the road on Rte (?) 7? Does playing the car radio let them know a car is approaching. I won't blast it, I promise. Are there ways to avoid deer accidents?

Also, how is the traffic? Should I be concerned about big trucks tailgating me? Is there room to move over? Do you suggest other routes?

I realize these may sound like "stupid" questions. But I am sure you posters would have good advice. (even if you mock me or make fun, that's okay) I just took a defensive driving class and trying to plan well. Thanks very much!

[Why_Am_I_Here]

Deer will (and do) cross over all roads in Vermont. There is no way though to predict where or when. No, playing your radio loud will not help. Deer will cross not matter what. There is an item you can buy at autoparts stores (I think) that whistles at low frequency that deer supposedly can hear.
As for traffic? Hit or miss, some routes will have a lot, others not as much. I recommend Rte. 100 north. It will take you through some of the best parts of Vermont, and parts of it will have little truck traffic..

[Vermonr]

If a deer's going to cross the road, it's probably going to be in the morning, early evening, or at night. Just be alert and at night keep your eyes on the side of the road- their eyes are extremely reflective. There is really nothing you can do (short of that device Why_Am_I_Here mentioned) to prevent them from jumping. Best advice I can give is to just be alert and if you see them on the side of the road come to a stop or slow way down, let them move first. Don't let deer make you nervous though, while accidents happen as long as you drive alert you'll probably be ok.

Route 7 between Pittsford and Brandon is the absolute worst for big trucks. You don't usually have to worry about them tailgating you, you just have to worry about them driving really slow in front of you! How about route 100? I think both are pretty, but route 100 is much nicer, and you don't get big trucks there.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by ApresNY

I am driving through your beautiful state soon. I will be going to Bennington, Manchester, Middlebury and Burlington. (and Waterbury) Please help me with the following questions.

Should I be concerned about deer crossing the road on Rte (?) 7? Does playing the car radio let them know a car is approaching. I won't blast it, I promise. Are there ways to avoid deer accidents?

Also, how is the traffic? Should I be concerned about big trucks tailgating me? Is there room to move over? Do you suggest other routes?

I realize these may sound like "stupid" questions. But I am sure you posters would have good advice. (even if you mock me or make fun, that's okay) I just took a defensive driving class and trying to plan well. Thanks very much!

I can't speak for southern Vermont, but I can tell you in Northern Vermont I've seen fewer deer here than anywhere I've lived in the country. There were a lot more deer ten miles outside Chicago than the Burlington area.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by ApresNY

I am driving through your beautiful state soon. I will be going to Bennington, Manchester, Middlebury and Burlington. (and Waterbury) Please help me with the following questions.

Should I be concerned about deer crossing the road on Rte (?) 7? Does playing the car radio let them know a car is approaching. I won't blast it, I promise. Are there ways to avoid deer accidents?

Also, how is the traffic? Should I be concerned about big trucks tailgating me? Is there room to move over? Do you suggest other routes?

I realize these may sound like "stupid" questions. But I am sure you posters would have good advice. (even if you mock me or make fun, that's okay) I just took a defensive driving class and trying to plan well. Thanks very much!

I can't speak for southern Vermont, but I can tell you in Northern Vermont I've seen fewer deer here than anywhere I've lived in the country. There were a lot more deer ten miles outside Chicago than the Burlington area.

It sounds like you may be a slow driver if you are concerned about tailgating. It's perfectly legal for people to pass you on a double line
so be ready for that. Some places there are shoulders and some places not. Vermont drivers are pretty polite and tend not to hassle people.

[Sherylcatmom]

I drive Route 7 between Bennington and Rutland, and also between Rutland and Burlington, pretty frequently. It's a lovely drive.

While deer have not yet run in front of my car on this route, I know it's always possible and I stay very alert. Don't tailgate, drive at a safe speed, and keep scanning the area on the sides of the road as well as watching the road in front of you.

I've never had a truck tailgating me on Route 7. Rather, slow trucks and/or farm equipment and/or cars may tempt you to tailgate.

Originally Posted by ApresNY

I am driving through your beautiful state soon. I will be going to Bennington, Manchester, Middlebury and Burlington. (and Waterbury) Please help me with the following questions.

Should I be concerned about deer crossing the road on Rte (?) 7? Does playing the car radio let them know a car is approaching. I won't blast it, I promise. Are there ways to avoid deer accidents?

Also, how is the traffic? Should I be concerned about big trucks tailgating me? Is there room to move over? Do you suggest other routes?

I realize these may sound like "stupid" questions. But I am sure you posters would have good advice. (even if you mock me or make fun, that's okay) I just took a defensive driving class and trying to plan well. Thanks very much!

[ApresNY]

Thank you all very much!

[Dippylou]

Sray alert ie don't use a cell while driving. (pet peeve and never safe)

[square peg]

Re. the deer/wildlife whistles: They're very inexpensive, maybe 5 bucks. I think I'll let that pun stand. I've seen them in every auto parts store I've been to. They have an adhesive on the bottom and stick right on your front bumper. Our cars have them now and they seem to stay put.

If you see a deer ahead of you running across the road. Don't just admire it. Slow down and look toward the direction it came from. There may very well be another following. I've seen this more than a few times.

My wife hit one last summer in broad daylight. It came right out of a hayfield and she never saw it. The deer never saw her either. I was following behind and watched the whole thing. Wasn't very pretty. 'Course my wife is blind in one eye and can't see out of the other. Seriously, she has limited peripheral vision. I watched the entire episode unfold like it was in slow motion.

[arctichomesteader]

Not just deer, moose and bears also. I believe there was a pretty bad collision with a bear on rt 7 near Pittsford IIRC not all that long ago. Crashing into a moose would probably be fatal (because of their long legs and weight of their body).

I'm not convinced those whistles work, nothing will replace being alert.