Regional Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse

(An Overview)

Committee/Board Meetingand

Workshop

UW-MadisonPyle Center

February 4-5, 2002

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Time-Tested Problem

• The Size of the Problem

• The Plan

• The Project

• Expected Results

NOT A NEW PROBLEM

IT CONTINUES

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Five Taken to Hospital after Car Hits Deer, Sends it Flying

into Bus Windshield

NATIONAL CONCERN

• Vehicle-Miles-Traveled Increase

• Longer Commutes

• Semi-Rural/Exurban Development

• Increasing Deer Population

• Downward Trend in Hunting

THE UPPER MIDWESTPre-Hunt

Numbers inDeer Herd

Deer-VehicleCrashes Deaths Injuries

VehicleDamage

Michigan 1,900,000 65,000 8 2,000 $110 mil

Wisconsin 1,600,000 20,000 5 800 $34 mil

Minnesota 960,000 19,000 2 450 $32 mil

Illinois 800,000 19,700 5 800 $33 mil

Iowa 210,000 7,800 3 600 $13 mil

Midwest(5 states) 5,470,000 131,500 23 4,650 $222 mil

WISCONSIN

• One of Six or Seven Crashes• Probably Higher• Injuries/Fatalities Increasing• Overall Percent/Rate Increasing• 2000 - Six Counties > 45%• 2000 - About 20,000 Reported

WISCONSIN (Cont.)

GRANT

LAFAYETTEGREEN ROCK

KENOSHA

RACINEWALWORTH

CRAWFORD

IOWA

VERNON

MILWAUKEEWAUKESHAJEFFERSON

DANE

RICHLAND

LA CROSSE

MONROE

BUFFALO

PEPIN

SAUK COLUMBIA DODGE

JUNEAU

JACKSON

OZAUKEE

WASHINGTON

SHEBOYGAN

FOND DU LAC

MARQUETTE GREENLAKE

ADAMS

MANITOWOC

PIERCE

ST. CROIX DUNN

EAU CLAIRE

CALUMETWINNEBAGOWAUSHARA

KEWAUNEE

DOOR

BROWN

OUTAGAMIE

WAUPACAPORTAGEWOOD

CLARK

MARATHON

SHAWANO

MENOMINEE

OCONTO

POLK

BARRON

CHIPPEWA

TAYLOR

RUSK

BURNETT

WASHBURN SAWYER

PRICE

DOUGLAS

BAYFIELD

ASHLAND

IRON

VILAS

ONEIDA

LINCOLN

FORESTFLORENCE

LANGLADE

MARINETTE

TREMPEALEAU

31-45%

16-30%

0-15%

> 45%

WISCONSIN (Cont.)

Deer Crashes as a Percentage of All Motor Vehicle Crashes

0

5

10

15

20

19781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000

Year

Percent

WISCONSIN (Cont.)

Motor Vehicle-Deer Crashes: Persons Injured or Killed

0200400600800

1000

197819801982198419861988199019921994199619982000

Year

Number of Persons

WISCONSIN (Cont.)

Motor-Vehicle Crashes per 100 Million VMT

01020304050

197819801982198419861988199019921994199619982000

Year

Rate

WISCONSIN (Cont.)

Motor Vehicle Crashes by Month (2000)

0

10

20

30

Jan Feb MarApr MayJun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Percent

THE PLAN

• Deer Vehicle Collision Reduction Working Group Conference

• Partners: DOT, DNR, and Sand County

• Working Group Recommendations: Promising Pathways Center for Research Excellence Deer-Vehicle Crash Information

Clearinghouse

THE DVCIC Project

• July 2001 to July 2003

• WisDOT Funded

• Partners: DOT, DNR, Sand County, and UW (CEE, EPD, Ecology, and MRUTC)

• Based at UW-Madison

• Five Regional States: WI, MN, IL, MI and IA

THE OBJECTIVES

• Compile Current DVC-Related Knowledge

• Develop/Promote Standard DVC-Related Research and DVC Data Collection/Information Management Approaches

THE OBJECTIVES (CONT.)

• Collect, Evaluate, and Analyze Regional DVC-Related Data

• Create/Update DVC-Related Data Information System

THE OBJECTIVES (CONT.)

• Distribute Useful DVC-Related Information/Findings: Countermeasure Toolbox, Reviews, Standards

Proposal, and Data Summaries

• Long-Term: Contribute to a Decrease in the Frequency and

Severity of Deer-Vehicle Crashes (i.e., Useful Information and Monitoring)

“Destination of Choice”

PHASE I - DELIVERABLES• Phase I (Year 1):

Research Knowledge and Gaps

Countermeasure Effectiveness Knowledge and Gaps (e.g., a toolbox)

Existing Data Collection Methods and Gaps

Suggested Research and Data Collection Standards

Begin to Populate Clearinghouse Webpage

COUNTERMEASURE TOOLBOX

• Advance Warning Signs• Noise/Sound/Whistle Devices• Roadside Reflectors• Fence• Wildlife Crossings• Motion Detectors/Changeable Warning

Signs• Diversionary Feeding Areas• Roadside Vegetation Growth/Mowing

SOME PRELIM. CONCLUSIONS

• Conflicting Research ResultsVariability in Data

Time, Area, and Dollars

• One Common Solution Unlikely

• Match Select Locations and Measures

• Diversity of Stakeholders

• Can Be Very Emotional Subject

PHASE II - DELIVERABLES• Phase II (Year 2):

Continue Clearinghouse Webpage Population DVC Database DVC Annual Summary WisDOT Standardization Plan

• Ongoing Activities: Education, Public Information, Awareness Webpage Updates Papers/Presentations Short Courses/Workshops Media Kits

ONGOING INFO. EXCHANGE• Presented Project/Subject:

WI Governor’s Safety Conference ICOET 2001 - Keystone, Colorado 2002 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

• Discussions with Numerous Media, Local/State Agencies, Academics, Entrepreneurs, and General Public

• News Releases and Informational Brochure (at www.mrutc.org)

• Clearinghouse Page: www. deercrash.com Currently under review

• Workshop Tomorrow

UPDATED SCHEDULE2001 2002 2003

Task J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J

PHASE I:TAC MeetingsReview ResearchReview Data Coll.Standards Proposed

PHASE II:Collect DataSummarize DataDOT AssistanceTech Memo/Reports

ONGOING:Web Page Upkeep

Liaison Activities

Outreach ActivitiesFor Example: News Notes, Board Meetings, Inspection Tours, Short Courses, Service Talk Documents, and Media Kits

EXPECTED PROJECT RESULTS

• Improve the State-of-the-Art in DVC-Related Areas

• Establish/Initiate a DVC Education, Research, and Information Clearinghouse

• Provide a Useable Tool that Helps Improve Roadway Safety

• Assist Decision-Makers, Educators, and Researchers in the DVC Reduction Area

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• TRB Subcommittee on Animal Vehicle Crash Mitigation

• Montana State - ARTEMIS, Rural ITS, Benefit/Cost, Technology Evaluation

• Utah State - Temporary Sign Impacts, National Agency Survey

• North Carolina State - Center for Transportation and the Environment

• AASHTO/FHWA Animal Mortality International Scanning Tour

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

THE PROBLEM•Ave. Annual Costs of DVCs in US = $1.2 billion

•Ave. Annual Deaths from DVCs in US = 178