I was just about to pull out to overtake a car up on the high plateau above where I live at about midday today when we both had to brake hard for a deer that chose that moment to cross the road.

The car ahead braked very hard, with the assistance of ABS. I used cadence braking, with two lock-ups. It was not a problem because I had left a sufficient margin, but it was a clear illustration of how you are in old technology and have to use old techniques in an emergency.

I have lived here for 20 years and that's only the second deer I have seen - and the other one was on my land, at dawn.