South Dakota Deer-Vehicle Collision
Data
Art SmithArt SmithDept. of Game, Fish & ParksDept. of Game, Fish & Parks523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre523 E. Capitol Ave, [email protected]@state.sd.us
25% of all SD crashes from 1999-2004 caused by hitting a
wild animal
# crashes due towild animal# other crashes
South Dakota is not alone!
-2
2
6
10
14
18
US Southeast Northeast Midwest West
Estimated 5-year increase in regional deer complaints – AFWA, 2004
The human population is increasingThe human population is increasing Number of registered vehicles is risingNumber of registered vehicles is rising Number of total miles traveled is risingNumber of total miles traveled is rising Number of rural miles traveled is risingNumber of rural miles traveled is rising
Deer-Vehicle crashes occur when deer & vehicles try to occupy the
same place at the same time
So even if deer populations are not increasing, the probability of
deer-vehicle crashes will
Utah 1996-2001 example:
average vehicle damage costs due to deer collisions
Along with increasing probabilities of deer-vehicle collisions is an increase in vehicle repair costs
$1,150
$1,200
$1,250
$1,300
$1,350
$1,400
$1,450
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
94.7% of all DVC result in no human injuries94.7% of all DVC result in no human injuries– 2.2% possible injuries2.2% possible injuries– 1.8% bruises and abrasions1.8% bruises and abrasions– 1.2% broken bones & bleeding1.2% broken bones & bleeding– 0.04% fatal0.04% fatal
97.9% of all DVC do not result in 97.9% of all DVC do not result in hospitalizationhospitalization
Average hospitalization cost $3,470Average hospitalization cost $3,470
Medical costs associated with deer-vehicle collisions are also important
Utah, 1996-2001 DVC dataUtah, 1996-2001 DVC data
GFP & DOT combine for carcass removalsGFP & DOT combine for carcass removals SDARS collected by law enforcementSDARS collected by law enforcement Mapping of carcass and accident report dataMapping of carcass and accident report data Annual press releases & DMS sign warningsAnnual press releases & DMS sign warnings DVC Stakeholder GroupDVC Stakeholder Group
– examine mapping dataexamine mapping data– develop public awareness campaignsdevelop public awareness campaigns
state levelstate level local levellocal level
So what are South Dakota state agencies doing about deer-vehicle
collisions?
Mapping – data sources:Mapping – data sources:– Carcass removalsCarcass removals– South Dakota Accident Reporting South Dakota Accident Reporting
SystemSystem Public Awareness CampaignPublic Awareness Campaign
– news releases / roadway signs / news releases / roadway signs / interviewsinterviews
– ““local” news infolocal” news info
Mapping & Public Education
Mapping - carcass collection data
Contractor’s nameContractor’s name Date of pick-upDate of pick-up Location (highway, mrm)Location (highway, mrm)
UTMsUTMs SpeciesSpecies SexSex Date of complaintDate of complaint Flagged or not flaggedFlagged or not flagged
Mapping - carcass collection data
How severe the problem isHow severe the problem isHow many accidents are occurringHow many accidents are occurringRough idea of when the accident Rough idea of when the accident occurredoccurred
– seasonseason
Mapping - carcass collection data
Codified law required citizen reporting to law Codified law required citizen reporting to law enforcement of accidents involving at least 1 enforcement of accidents involving at least 1 motor vehicle within a trafficwaymotor vehicle within a trafficway
– causing fatalitycausing fatality– injury, orinjury, or– property damage of $1,000 to 1 person or $2,000 property damage of $1,000 to 1 person or $2,000
per accidentper accident– SDCL 32-34-7, 32-34-10, 32-34-13SDCL 32-34-7, 32-34-10, 32-34-13– http://www.state.sd.us/dps/AccidentRecords/http://www.state.sd.us/dps/AccidentRecords/
accident.htmaccident.htm
Mapping - South Dakota Accident Reporting System
How severe the problem is, risk for How severe the problem is, risk for humans and deerhumans and deer
How many accidents are occurringHow many accidents are occurringHow severe the accidents areHow severe the accidents arewho is involvedwho is involved
– seasonseason– time of daytime of day– age/sex of driverage/sex of driver
Mapping - South Dakota Accident Reporting System
Carcass removal dataCarcass removal data– 12,000 annually12,000 annually– 92% on state / interstate highways only92% on state / interstate highways only
South Dakota Accident Reporting South Dakota Accident Reporting SystemSystem– 5,000 annually reported due to “wild 5,000 annually reported due to “wild
animal”animal”– 95% wild animal due to deer95% wild animal due to deer– statewide reportingstatewide reporting– minimum damage reporting levelminimum damage reporting level
Mapping
Find locations or road sections w/ higher Find locations or road sections w/ higher than average deer-vehicle collisionsthan average deer-vehicle collisions
Prioritize these areas by degree of Prioritize these areas by degree of severityseverity
Use habitat modeling and/or expert Use habitat modeling and/or expert opinion to precisely locate successful opinion to precisely locate successful and unsuccessful crossings by deerand unsuccessful crossings by deer
Consider variety of tools to reduce deer-Consider variety of tools to reduce deer-vehicle collisionsvehicle collisions
Mapping
traffic patternstraffic patterns seasonalityseasonality time of daytime of day road characteristicsroad characteristics surrounding land usesurrounding land use deer movement patternsdeer movement patterns topographytopography
Deer-vehicle collision reduction inputs
standard deer crossing signsstandard deer crossing signs enhanced deer warning signsenhanced deer warning signs animal detection systemsanimal detection systems wildlife warning wildlife warning
mirrors/reflectorsmirrors/reflectors exclusionary fencingexclusionary fencing wildlife under- & overpasseswildlife under- & overpasses educationeducation
Deer-vehicle collision reduction tools
Provide “hot spot” location informationProvide “hot spot” location information– direct mitigation effortsdirect mitigation efforts– direct public awareness effortsdirect public awareness efforts
Provide evaluation process for mitigation Provide evaluation process for mitigation techniquestechniques
Provide guidance for response to public Provide guidance for response to public inquiries about deer-vehicle collisionsinquiries about deer-vehicle collisions
Provide roadway designers knowledge to Provide roadway designers knowledge to make safer roadsmake safer roads
Provide wildlife managers information on Provide wildlife managers information on deer movement & potential mitigation deer movement & potential mitigation techniquestechniques
Mapping
Mapping - carcass collection data
Annual News releasesAnnual News releases– drive slower, especially at dawn & duskdrive slower, especially at dawn & dusk– be on the lookout for deerbe on the lookout for deer– don’t swerve, hit deer insteaddon’t swerve, hit deer instead
Roadway warning signsRoadway warning signs– "Watch for deer on roads""Watch for deer on roads"– "Watch for deer crossing the road""Watch for deer crossing the road"
““Deer-vehicle Collision Awareness” month Deer-vehicle Collision Awareness” month – statewidestatewide– local awareness programslocal awareness programs
Public Education
Wildlife & roadway safety professionals are:Wildlife & roadway safety professionals are:– objectiveobjective– make right decisions based on sciencemake right decisions based on science– if everyone listened we’d be all rightif everyone listened we’d be all right
However, a person’s decision making However, a person’s decision making influenced by:influenced by:– prior experienceprior experience– social pressuresocial pressure– intuitionintuition– other factorsother factors
Examples – seat belt use & deer whistlesExamples – seat belt use & deer whistles
Public Education
Public education will be a big part in Public education will be a big part in reducing deer-vehicle collisionsreducing deer-vehicle collisions– the public doesn’t naturally listen to the public doesn’t naturally listen to
expertsexperts Public relations & education will take Public relations & education will take
the forefront in reducing deer-vehicle the forefront in reducing deer-vehicle collisionscollisions
We need to understand the We need to understand the difficulties we will encounterdifficulties we will encounter
Public Education
4 general action items:4 general action items:1.1. Increase intra- and inter-agency Increase intra- and inter-agency
coordination with respect to DVCs – coordination with respect to DVCs – develop state- and/or agency-based develop state- and/or agency-based committees or coalitions.committees or coalitions.
2.2. Increase awareness of the DVC issue Increase awareness of the DVC issue through a variety of activities – provide through a variety of activities – provide correct DVC messages to the correct DVC messages to the appropriate audience.appropriate audience.
Conclusion – 2005 deer-vehicle crash reductions strategic agenda
4 general action items:4 general action items:3.3. Consistent DVC-related data collection Consistent DVC-related data collection
– carcass collection & accident – carcass collection & accident reporting.reporting.
4.4. Promote the development, evaluation, Promote the development, evaluation, and/or implementation of potential and and/or implementation of potential and existing DVC countermeasures – add to existing DVC countermeasures – add to the limited knowledge base of the the limited knowledge base of the potential ecological and safety impacts potential ecological and safety impacts of these countermeasures.of these countermeasures.
Conclusion – 2005 deer-vehicle crash reductions strategic agenda