Examination of Deer-Vehicle Collisions (DVCs) in Michigan

Shawn J. RileyKrishnan Sudharsan

Alix Marcoux

Collaborators

• Michigan Deer Crash Coalition • Michigan Department of Transportation• Michigan Department of Natural Resources• Michigan Institute for Applied Policy Research• Michigan State University

Department of Fisheries & WildlifeAgriculture & Natural Resources Education & Communication ServicesDepartment of ForestryCollege of Education

• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments• AAA

Total Number of DVCs in Michigan from 1995 to 2001

50000

55000

60000

65000

70000

75000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f DV

Cs

DVCs

2001 DVC Distribution by County

DVC Distribution0-500501-10001001-15001501-20002001-2500

ÊÚÊÚ

Detroit

Lansing

Study Area

DVCs in Study Counties as a Percentage of Michigan’s Total DVCs (1999-2001)

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

Jackson Oakland Ingham Washtenaw Genesee Livingston

County

% o

f D

VC

s

County

Conceptualization

DEER + ROAD

DRIVER

DVC

TITLE: Environmental Factors Affecting Frequency and Rates of Deer-Vehicle CollisionsGOALS: Reduce the frequency of deer-vehicle collisions in

Michigan through improvement in knowledge about environmental factors affecting the frequency and rate of deer-vehicle collisions.

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine and quantify the environmental factors affecting frequency and rate of DVCs in southern Michigan.

• Develop predictive models to provide guidance on where current and future DVC hotspots will occur in southern Michigan.

• Based on knowledge gained in objectives 1 and 2, assess how environmental factors can be managed to alleviate DVCs.

• To develop educational materials to reduce the impact of deer-vehicle collisions.

Approach

• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)– Spatial database analyses

• Vegetative land cover• Land use• Traffic flow• Deer habitat potential• Relative deer density

• Model construction– Resource selection functions (RSF)

• K-fold cross validation

TITLE: Development of Information and Education Programs to Alleviate

Deer-Vehicle Collisions (DVCs)

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine situational characteristics of DVCs

• Determine motorists’ knowledge, values, beliefs, attitudes, and risk perceptions with regard to DVCs

• Understand attitudes towards deer population levels, managers of transportation, and wildlife resources

• Develop educational programs aimed at reducing impacts to society of DVCs

• Integrate research on environmental factors affecting frequency and rate of DVCs

GOAL: Improve the quality of life for Michigan residents by reducing the frequency of DVCs.

Approach• Categorize DVCs by:

Type of motorist (commuter, errand-runner, traveler) Time of year Within versus outside incorporated municipalities Jurisdiction of roadway (municipal, county, state interstate)

• Use qualitative and quantitative surveys of stakeholders to determine incidence of DVCs (reporting rates), human impacts, attitudes, beliefs, & risk perception among motorists regarding DVCs.

• Determine antecedents to more effective communication and education on DVCs.

• Propose communication and educational programs based on research findings.

Thank you !