Deer Crash Statistics

DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS (DVC): LESSONS FROM A MICHIGAN STUDY

Krishnan Sudharsan Public Policy Fellow Public Sector Consultants September 29, 2008

Problem Statement  Over 65,000 deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) each year in Michigan; > 1 million nationally  230% increase since 1982  Average cost: $2,300 per crash (AAA MI, 2005)

 Total direct costs: $150 million; > $1 billion  Indirect costs: health care, missed work, etc.  Underreporting rate of ~ 50% (Marcoux 2005)

 On average, 5 human fatalities/yr (~

2001 DVC Distribution, by County DVC Distribution 0-500 501-1000 1001-1500 1501-2000 2001-2500

Ú Ê

Ú Ê

Mental Model

DEER

+

DRIVER

LANDSCAPE

Study Area  Monroe County  Rural landscape  Population ~ 150,000

 Washtenaw County  Suburban/rural mix  Population ~ 325,000

 Oakland County  Suburban landscape  Population ~ 1.2 million

OAKLAND N

WASHTENA W

W

MONROE

E S

Annual number of DVCs and DVCs as a percentage of total crashes for study area, 1999–2001

Monroe

Washtenaw

Oakland

Year

DVCs

%

DVCs

%

DVCs

%

1999

299

6.62%

1,759

3.59%

1,319

9.99%

2000

282

5.72%

1,638

3.29%

1,244

9.22%

2001

312

6.84%

1,633

3.57%

1,395

10.95%

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# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # #

OAKLAND

WASHTENAW

MONROE

.

14

≤ 2 LANES

12

AVERAGE RELATIVE RISK

> 2 LANES 10

8

6

4

2

0 RURAL

URBAN

MONROE

RURAL

URBAN

WASHTENAW

COUNTY AND ROAD CLASS

RURAL

URBAN

OAKLAND

AVERAGE RELATIVE RISK

.

40

35

≤ 2 LANES

30

> 2 LANES

25

20

15

10

5

0 LOW

MEDIUM MONROE

HIGH

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

WASHTENAW

COUNTY AND SPEED LIMIT

LOW

MEDIUM OAKLAND

HIGH

Frogger

Rural landscapes represented by Monroe County  Fewer DVCs are likely to occur on medium-speed roads (45 to 60 mph) than high-speed roads (> 60 mph)  Be alert for deer, especially while driving through upland deciduous areas  Watch for changes in landscape structure (i.e., areas that provide cover for crossing,

Example

Mixed landscapes represented by Washtenaw County  Greater number of DVCs are likely to occur on medium-speed (45 to 60 mph), > 2-lane roads than high-speed (> 60 mph), > 2-lane roads  Watch for deer when passing through agricultural areas and upland openland areas (grasses, forbs, high nutrition)

Suburban landscapes represented by Oakland County  Traffic volume is so high that few options exist to reduce total number of DVCs  Greater number of DVCs are likely to occur on medium-speed (45 to 60 mph), > 2-lane roads than high-speed (> 60 mph)  Be alert for deer at all times, but especially in agricultural and upland openland areas

Seasonal variation in DVCs in Michigan (1999-2001)

.

40000

Number of DVCs

50000

30000 20000 10000 0 December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

DVCs, by Time of Day 5000 4500

Number of DVCs

.

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000

22

19

Hour

16

13

10

7

4

1

500 0

Inferences DVCs are not random There ARE actions that can be taken to reduce DVCs “Place” matters! (Be aware of transitional areas) Season and time of day when you drive matter

What to do if a deer runs in front of your vehicle? Don’t swerve Brake firmly if there are no vehicles behind you Hold on to the steering wheel Stay in your lane Bring your vehicle to a controlled stop

The French Solution

Acknowledgements  Dr. Shawn Riley, Advisor, MSU  Mark Coscarelli, Vice President, PSC  Jeff Williams, Senior Vice President, PSC  April Bennett, MUCC  Donna Stine, MUCC

Thank You