South Dakota Deer-Vehicle Collision Data

1. South Dakota Deer-Vehicle Collision Data Art Smith Dept. of Game, Fish & Parks 523 E. Capitol Ave, Pierre 605.773.7595 art.smith@state.sd.us

2. 25% of all SD crashes from 1999-2004 caused by hitting a wild animal

3. South Dakota is not alone! Estimated 5-year increase in regional deer complaints – AFWA, 2004

4. Deer-Vehicle crashes occur when deer & vehicles try to occupy the same place at the same time • The human population is increasing • Number of registered vehicles is rising • Number of total miles traveled is rising • Number of rural miles traveled is rising So even if deer populations are not increasing, the probability of deer-vehicle crashes will

5. Along with increasing probabilities of deer-vehicle collisions is an increase in vehicle repair costs Utah 1996-2001 example: average vehicle damage costs due to deer collisions

6. Medical costs associated with deer-vehicle collisions are also important • 94.7% of all DVC result in no human injuries • 2.2% possible injuries • 1.8% bruises and abrasions • 1.2% broken bones & bleeding • 0.04% fatal • 97.9% of all DVC do not result in hospitalization • Average hospitalization cost $3,470 Utah, 1996-2001 DVC data

7. So what are South Dakota state agencies doing about deer-vehicle collisions? • GFP & DOT combine for carcass removals • SDARS collected by law enforcement • Mapping of carcass and accident report data • Annual press releases & DMS sign warnings • DVC Stakeholder Group • examine mapping data • develop public awareness campaigns • state level • local level

8. Mapping & Public Education • Mapping – data sources: • Carcass removals • South Dakota Accident Reporting System • Public Awareness Campaign • news releases / roadway signs / interviews • “local” news info

9. Mapping - carcass collection data

10. Mapping - carcass collection data • Contractor’s name • Date of pick-up • Location (highway, mrm) • UTMs • Species • Sex • Date of complaint • Flagged or not flagged

11. Mapping - carcass collection data • How severe the problem is • How many accidents are occurring • Rough idea of when the accident occurred • season

12. Mapping - South Dakota Accident Reporting System Codified law required citizen reporting to law enforcement of accidents involving at least 1 motor vehicle within a trafficway • causing fatality • injury, or • property damage of $1,000 to 1 person or $2,000 per accident • SDCL 32-34-7, 32-34-10, 32-34-13 • http://www.state.sd.us/dps/AccidentRecords/accident.htm

13. Mapping - South Dakota Accident Reporting System • How severe the problem is, risk for humans and deer • How many accidents are occurring • How severe the accidents are • who is involved • season • time of day • age/sex of driver

14. Mapping • Carcass removal data • 12,000 annually • 92% on state / interstate highways only • South Dakota Accident Reporting System • 5,000 annually reported due to “wild animal” • 95% wild animal due to deer • statewide reporting • minimum damage reporting level

15. Mapping • Find locations or road sections w/ higher than average deer-vehicle collisions • Prioritize these areas by degree of severity • Use habitat modeling and/or expert opinion to precisely locate successful and unsuccessful crossings by deer • Consider variety of tools to reduce deer-vehicle collisions

16. Deer-vehicle collision reduction inputs • traffic patterns • seasonality • time of day • road characteristics • surrounding land use • deer movement patterns • topography

17. Deer-vehicle collision reduction tools • standard deer crossing signs • enhanced deer warning signs • animal detection systems • wildlife warning mirrors/reflectors • exclusionary fencing • wildlife under- & overpasses • education

18. Mapping • Provide “hot spot” location information • direct mitigation efforts • direct public awareness efforts • Provide evaluation process for mitigation techniques • Provide guidance for response to public inquiries about deer-vehicle collisions • Provide roadway designers knowledge to make safer roads • Provide wildlife managers information on deer movement & potential mitigation techniques

19. Mapping - carcass collection data

20. Public Education • Annual News releases • drive slower, especially at dawn & dusk • be on the lookout for deer • don’t swerve, hit deer instead • Roadway warning signs • "Watch for deer on roads" • "Watch for deer crossing the road" • “Deer-vehicle Collision Awareness” month • statewide • local awareness programs

21. Public Education • Wildlife & roadway safety professionals are: • objective • make right decisions based on science • if everyone listened we’d be all right • However, a person’s decision making influenced by: • prior experience • social pressure • intuition • other factors • Examples – seat belt use & deer whistles

22. Public Education • Public education will be a big part in reducing deer-vehicle collisions • the public doesn’t naturally listen to experts • Public relations & education will take the forefront in reducing deer-vehicle collisions • We need to understand the difficulties we will encounter

23. Conclusion – 2005 deer-vehicle crash reductions strategic agenda 4 general action items: • Increase intra- and inter-agency coordination with respect to DVCs – develop state- and/or agency-based committees or coalitions. • Increase awareness of the DVC issue through a variety of activities – provide correct DVC messages to the appropriate audience.

24. Conclusion – 2005 deer-vehicle crash reductions strategic agenda 4 general action items: • Consistent DVC-related data collection – carcass collection & accident reporting. • Promote the development, evaluation, and/or implementation of potential and existing DVC countermeasures – add to the limited knowledge base of the potential ecological and safety impacts of these countermeasures.