Animal Collision Avoidance - Laramie, Wyoming

Animal Collision A

Wyoming Transportation Sa
Casper, Wyoming
April 1, 2014

Colonel Mark V. Trostel
Driving Safety Advisor
Encana Oil & Gas, Inc.

Avoidance

afety Congress

It Can Happen Anytim

me, Anywhere…

www.encana.com

The U.S. Yearly Statis

• 1.5 Million Animal Involved C

(IIHS estimate 2011)

• Many animal collisions are n

• Average of 200 People Killed

• Animal Involved Collision De

1994 and 14% alone since 20

• Approximately 10,000 Peopl
• Collisions with Deer Accoun

• All Other Animals = 25%

• Most animal involved collisio

MPH or higher speed limits

• 70% of all Deer Collisions oc

stics…

Collisions in the US Each Year

not be reported to LE

d Each Year (CDC - 2011)

eaths On the Increase – 67% since
006

le Injured Each Year (NHTSA 2011)
nt for 75% of all wildlife collisions

ons occur on highways with 55

ccur October through December

www.encana.com

Statistics continued…

•Financial Cost

• Average cost of a car vs.

2011)

• One Billion Dollars in Pro

(NHTSA 2011)

• Eight Billion in total econ

•Most Dangerous Wi

• Sharks kill about 10 peop
• Bears kill about 3 people
• Deer kill about 200 people

motor vehicles – Doubled

…

animal collision is $3,171.00 (IIHS
operty Damage Each Year in U.S.
nomic cost in U.S. (TxDOT, 2011)

ild Animal in America?

ple each year
each year
e each year…in collisions with
d since 1990

www.encana.com

Don’t Worry Dear, I’m

m Sure He’s Seen Us!

www.encana.com

Wyoming Animal Col

• Wyoming ranked #6 Nationa

Vehicle versus Animal Crash
basis

• 2 People died and 156 were I

2011

• Highest Risk Highway – US 2

and Kirby in Hot Springs Co
versus deer collision every d

• October 1 to March 1- most p

collisions in Wyoming

llision Statistics…

ally in 2011 for total number of
hes (Mostly Deer) on a per capita

Injured in Collisions with Animals in

20 between Wind River Canyon
ounty (18 mile stretch) – One car
day on average each year
prevalent time for animal

www.encana.com

Things You Need to K

• Domestic vs. Wild Animals

• Who owns wildlife?
• Fence Laws – apply to dome

• Peak Times of Day to Encou

• Dawn and Dusk… and Night

• Correlates with highest driver
• Big game are most active 6p-

• Peak Times of year to Encou

• Fall and Winter Primarily

• October- December Most Pre

• Migration
• Rut/Breeding Season
• Hunting Season Pressure – c

• Why do Deer and Elk tend to

• Source of feed – more grass
• Salt source – also from run o

Know…

estic animals only

unter Wildlife

r fatigue periods and lowest visibility times
-9p

unter Wildlife

evalent (70% of collisions)

changes animal’s normal behavior

o hang around Highways?

due to water run off
off and ice/snow winter treatments

www.encana.com

Preventable or Non-P

Perceptions vs. Reality
Why do some drivers colli
do?
a. Attitude
b. Judgment
c. Experience
d. Skill
e. All of The Above

Are There Suicidal Animals?
You’d think so according
involved crashes…

Preventable?

ide with animals and some never

to many drivers in Animal

www.encana.com

Q: Why did the Deer C
A: To Prove He Wasn

Cross the Road?
n’t Chicken…

www.encana.com

Driving Issues

• Speed

• Biggest Factor in Wildlife Co
• Stopping Distance = Reactio
• Higher Speed = Longer Stop
• 55 MPH = 259 Feet to Stop (a
• Higher Speed = Higher Force

damage potential and more i

• Headlights (Clean)

• Low Beam (Dims) are Outrun
• Low Beam only projects out

• Animal Actions and Reaction

• Unpredictable
• Expect more than you’ve see

• Other Traffic = Additional Ha

ollisions
on Time + Braking Time

ping Distance
average)
e of Impact if Collision Occurs = more
injury potential

n at 60-65 MPH
160 feet forward (average)

ns

en – herd animals

azards

www.encana.com

Driving Issues contin

• Fatigue

• 24 Hours Awake = BAC of .10
• Avoid Driving at Night Espec
• Vision, Reactions, and Judgm

• Geography and Terrain

• Habitat for Wildlife?

• Wooded Areas and Fields

• Farm or Ranch Area (domest
• Open Range

• Cattle Guards or Texas Gates

animals on the road!

nued…

0 (Legally Intoxicated at .08)
cially when Fatigued
ment - All Significantly Impaired

tic animals present)

s – Clear Indication there will likely be

www.encana.com

What About Deer Wh

histles?

www.encana.com

Driving Issues con

•Deer Whistles

•Ultrasonic noise (1
•Only emit noise at

•Nearly All Credible I

indicate they are NO
collisions with Deer

•No evidence they ar

Domestic Animals e

ntinued…

16 to 20 kHz)
t 30 MPH or higher

Independent Studies
OT effective at reducing
r or other wildlife

re heard by Wild Hogs or
either

www.encana.com

Posted Signs and Wa

• Why is this sign posted

• Crash Studies – State D

• Advisory / Warning Only
• Driving Where Wildlife W

Posted?

• Still May Encounter Wil

• Passive Warning signs

Tend to be ignored over

• Active Warning signs –

effectiveness not clear

arnings

d here?

DOTs/Highway Departments

y
Warning Signs are Not

ld or Domestic Animals

are ineffective - generally.
r time
newer technology but
yet – more costly too

www.encana.com

Official U.S. Warning
Signage

g Signs – “Passive”

www.encana.com

“Active” Signage. S

So… If It’s Not Flashing?

www.encana.com

Preventio

on Measures

•There Are Less

Costly (and
Less
Dangerous)
Ways To
Harvest a
Deer…

www.encana.com

Best Prevention Meas

•It’s You and How

• Far exceeds all ot

animal involved co
engineering (fencin
animal underpasse

•…Or vehicle equip

additions (grille gu
horn honking, flas

sure?

w You Drive!

ther attempts at reducing
ollisions such as
ng, warning signs,
es, etc.)
pment features or
uards, deer whistles,
shing headlights, etc.)

www.encana.com

What Can I Do To Avo

Prevention Measures

• Slow Down!

• Especially at Dawn and Dusk

Areas known for wildlife bein

• When approaching oncoming

see animals

• Don’t Out Run Your Headligh

• Scan Roadsides and Ditches

• Animal eyes sometimes refle
• Also Look for movement
• Especially important where r

where animals are commonly

• Eye movement should be co

• Helps also with fatigued or dr

oid Hitting an Animal?
s:

k and at Night in Wildlife Corridors and
ng present
g traffic – their lights make it harder to

hts

s - As Far Ahead as Possible

ect light – Heads Up!

roadside brush is thick and in areas
y observed
ontinuous – glances

rowsy driving prevention

www.encana.com

Prevention Measures

• Adjust following distance wh

• Add one second to the “3 Se

each hazard…

• Night + Rain + Animal Area =

• Brake lights or slowing vehic

• Keep windshields and headl

visibility and detection chan

• Use High Beams when safe a
• Headlights properly aimed or

• Avoid Distractions at all time

• Cell phone, Eating, GPS Prog
• Cognitive Distraction – Look
• Narrowed Field of Vision Wh

Blindness”

s continued…

hen other vehicles are present

econd Following Distance” rule for

6 second following distance

cle ahead may be a clue…

lights clean to improve your
nces

and legal to do so
r adjusted

es!

gramming, etc., etc.
k But Don’t See
hen Distracted – “Inattention

www.encana.com

Inattention Blindness

A narrowed scope

Where drivers not using a
hands-free cell phone looked.

Source: Tran

s

Where drivers using a
hands-free cell phone looked.

nsport Canada

www.encana.com

Distraction Plays a M

• Always Avoid Distractions - esp

animals are known to feed or m

• Park Your Phone and Drive You

Major Role…

pecially at night and in areas where
migrate.
ur Vehicle!

www.encana.com

Prevention and Mitigatio
Other Tips or Considerat

• Flickering Headlights of Onc

Disappearing/Reappearing R
be Crossing Road Ahead of

• Use Your ESC (Electronic St

on Dry Pavement Too if you

• Consider making your trip d

Significantly Reduces Risk

• Always Wear Your Seatbelt!

or Death in the event of a co

• Motorcycles – Helmets!
• Develop Your Mindset - Expe

Animals on Roadways in Mo
a Practice!

on Measures continued…
tions

coming Vehicles or
Roadside Reflectors – Animal may
You
tability Control) Feature – Works

have to Brake or Swerve
during daylight hours –

– Reduce your chances of Injury
ollision

ect to Encounter Wildlife or
ost Rural Areas – Anytime! Make it

www.encana.com

Sometimes a Collisio

Recommen

•Grasp Steering Wh

•Avoid the Urge to

Deer”

•Look where You w

You Will Drive Whe

•Brake Hard to Red

Impending Impact

•Maintain Control o

possible

•Let Up on the Brak

Raises front of Ve

on May Be Inevitable…

nded Actions:

heel firmly

Swerve -“Don’t Veer for

want Your Vehicle to Go –
ere Your Eyes Take You

duce Your Speed and the
–

of Vehicle as much as

ke Just Before Hit –

ehicle www.encana.com

Car + Elk = No Winne

er

www.encana.com