When maneuvering to avoid an animal in the road, what is the safest action?

The safest action when maneuvering to avoid an animal in the road is to slow down and take a safe evasive action. Reducing your speed gives you more time to assess the situation and react appropriately without losing control of your vehicle. Slowing down also decreases the likelihood of serious injury to both you and the animal, as well as minimizing potential damage to your vehicle.

Taking a safe evasive action could include steering to avoid the animal while still maintaining control of the vehicle, ideally without swerving into another lane or losing traction. This action balances the need to avoid the animal with ensuring that you do not create a new hazard for yourself or other road users.

Maintaining a straight line might seem safe, but it does not account for the dynamics of avoiding the animal effectively. Speeding up could lead to an increased risk of a collision, not only with the animal but also with other vehicles or obstacles. Crossing into oncoming traffic poses the highest risk of severe accidents and should always be avoided in emergency situations.