South Dakota Deer-Vehicle Collision

Data

Art SmithArt SmithDept. of Game, Fish & ParksDept. of Game, Fish & Parks523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre605.773.7595605.773.7595art.smith@state.sd.usart.smith@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