Other drivers are what scare me the most. Animals and gravel concern me too, but I figure sliding on gravel or hitting an animal would be less harmful than hitting the moron that pulls out in front of me, or cuts me off. I'm sure something as big as a deer would hurt alot, but it still can't hurt as much as hitting a small car. As for gravel: I don't lean into my turns all that aggressively yet and like the animal, I think going down form that would be less painful than hitting a car.