Presented by: Richard J. Miller, MDCC ChairAAA MichiganCommunity Safety Services

Michigan Deer Crash Michigan Deer Crash Coalition formed in Coalition formed in

19961996

By a group of public and private entities concerned about the increasing problem of car-deer crashes in Michigan.

Mission StatementMission Statement

The “ Michigan Deer Crash Coalition” shall promote and implement awareness and education activities for the reduction of vehicle deer crashes and the safety of Michigan motorists.

Organizations involved with Organizations involved with the Michigan Deer Crash the Michigan Deer Crash

CoalitionCoalition• AAA Michigan • Allstate Insurance • Federal Highway Administration • Insurance Information Association

of Michigan • Kent County Road Commission• Michigan Association of Chiefs of

Police • Michigan Association of Insurance

Agents• Michigan Department of Natural

Resources• Michigan Department of

Transportation• Michigan Farm Bureau• Michigan Secretary of State

• Michigan Sheriff's Association • Michigan State Police• Michigan State University,

Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Extension Office

• Michigan United Conservation Clubs• Office of Highway Safety Planning• Southeast Michigan Council of

Governments• State Farm Insurance• Traffic Safety Association of

Michigan• University of Michigan

Transportation Research Institute• United Parcel Service

Vehicle-Deer CrashesVehicle-Deer Crashes

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Michigan Traffic Crashes Michigan Traffic Crashes Involving DeerInvolving Deer

15% of all traffic crashes involve deer

Michigan Deer CrashesMichigan Deer CrashesTop Five CountiesTop Five Counties

County 1999 County 2000

Kent 2,070 Kent 2,037 J ackson 2,033 J ackson 1,938 Calhoun 1,852 Calhoun 1,907 Oakland 1,759 Oakland 1,638

Montcalm 1,605 Montcalm 1,541

CALHOUN 1,907

KENT2,037

MONTCALM 1,541

OAKLAND 1,638

JACKSON 1,938

Top Five Top Five Deer /Crash Deer /Crash Counties forCounties for 20002000

ALCONA

ALPENAANTRIM

CHARLEVOIX

CHEBOYGAN

CRAWFORD

EMMET

IOSCO

KALKASKA

MISSAUKEE

MONTMORENCY

OGEMAW

OSCODA

OTSEGO

PRESQUE ISLE

ROSCOMMON

BENZIEGRAND

TRAVERSE

LEELANAU

MANISTEE WEXFORD

ALLEGAN

ARENAC

BARRY

BAY

BERRIENBRANCHCASS

CLARE

CLINTON

EATON

GENESEE

GLADWIN

GRATIOT

HILLSDALE

HURON

INGHAM

IONIA

ISABELLA

KALAMAZOO

LAKE

LAPEER

LENAWEE

LIVINGSTON

MACOMB

MASON

MECOSTA MIDLAND

MONROE

MUSKEGON

NEWAYGO

OCEANA

OSCEOLA

OTTAWA

SAGINAW

ST. CLAIR

ST. JOSEPH

SANILAC

SHIAWASSEE

TUSCOLA

VAN BUREN WASHTENAW

WAYNE

Deer-Vehicle Crash by Deer-Vehicle Crash by MonthMonth

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

January

February

March April MayJu

neJu

ly

August

September

October

November

December

Deer-Vehicle Crash by Time of DayDeer-Vehicle Crash by Time of Day

6-8 p.m.

4-6 p.m.2-4

p.m.

6-8 a.m.

4-6 a.m.

2-4 a.m.Midnight-2

a.m.10p.m.-Midnight

8-10 p.m.

Noon-2 p.m.

10-Noon8-10 a.m.

Deer-Vehicle Crash CostsDeer-Vehicle Crash Costs““Average repair cost per vehicle”Average repair cost per vehicle”

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

$1,800

$2,000

19911992

19931994

19951996

19971998

19992000

Michigan Deer Crash Coalition 2001 Efforts

• Using MDOT funding, commissioned an EPIC/MRA telephone survey of 600 motorists in ten high car-deer crash Michigan counties:– Results used to compare against existing

perceptions of the “who, where, when, how and why” of car-deer crashes.

– Used to direct coalition efforts on education and public awareness.

What did we learn from the EPIC/MRA survey?

• No surprises in the “who, where, when, how & why” of car-deer crashes – existing data reflects motorist crash experience.

• A surprise? Unreported car-deer crashes may only add 15-20% to the total for Michigan.

What did we learn from the EPIC/MRA survey?

• Important discovery! Of motorists who have not yet been involved in a car-deer crash, one out of three would either not now what to do or would take the wrong driving action if confronted with an unavoidable deer crash.

• Motorists might be willing to pay a modest amount to reduce the number of car-deer crashes in Michigan.

Michigan Deer Crash Coalition 2001 Efforts

• Using MDNR, MSP and AAA Michigan funding, produced a twelve minute video entitled:

“Stay Clear of Deer All Year!”– Used Michigan based experts/authority

figures in the video.– Concentrated on avoiding crashes, but if

unavoidable – the message? Don’t swerve!– 550 copies distributed to Driver Education

Schools throughout Michigan.– To date, 250+ additional copies have been

distributed upon request.

Michigan Deer Crash Coalition 2001 Efforts

• Updated the MDCC brochure for the fourth time - 20,000 copies produced and distributed through MDOT, SOS, AAA Michigan and Michigan Resource Center.

• Held the fifth annual MDCC Press Conference in September, 2001 on the Michigan state capital steps – new video and brochure featured.

MDCC 2002 Goals?Yet to be established – but maybe?• Continue education and awareness

mission.• Facilitate research efforts on car-deer

crashes – may require a change in mission statement.

• Work closely with this Regional Clearinghouse on assembling a database on car-deer crashes and possible countermeasures to mitigate these crashes.

MDCC CHALLENGES IN 2002?

• What new “hook” can we find to capture media/public attention?

• What position should we to take, if any, on the “size of the deer herd” issue?

• Who else should we try to pull into our coalition? And what impact could that have?

QUESTIONS??