Incidence and Injury Types in Motorcycle Collisions Involving Deer in Western New York
Motorcycle popularity, urban sprawl, and large deer populations result in a significant number of deer–motorcycle collisions. This retrospective review of a level I trauma center in Buffalo, New York, revealed that 40 of 487 (8.2%) of patients admitted because of motorcycle crashes from May 2007 through June 2011 involved deer. There were 120 total injuries: the most common were orthopedic (39/120; 32.5%), chest (38/120; 31.7%), head (18/120; 15.0%), spine (10/120; 8.3%), facial (8/120; 6.7%), and abdominal (7/120; 5.8%). Thirty-five of 40 (87.5%) were men and were older (48.9 years, [SD, 8.9 years]) than the average for all motorcycle crashes during the study period (41.9 years, [SD, 13.9 years]). Mean (SD) injury severity score was 17.1 (9.8), reflecting the severity of encountered injuries. This study highlights the relatively common risk that deer pose to the motorcyclist and is comparable to published series in more rural Midwestern settings.
Two other factors, season and time of day, are important to consider in motorcycle collisions with deer. According to our data, 86% of these collisions occur in the warmer months, May through September, peaking in June. This is similar to findings from the Wisconsin study showing June and July as the peak months for deer–motorcycle collisions and a study in Minnesota where 61% of these crashes occurred in the summer months.2,3 These data most likely indicate increased motorcycle traffic in favorable weather conditions. Although time of accident could not be determined through our retrospective review, multiple studies have shown that the majority of collisions with deer tend to be between dusk and dawn. Smoot and colleagues2 found that 56% of vehicle collisions with deer occurred between 5 pm and midnight, with 80% between 5 pm and 6 am.2 Similarly, Nelson and colleagues3 found that 54.5% of collisions happened in a 4-hour period, from 6 pm to 10 pm. These data indicate that motorcycle operators should be especially vigilant in the morning and evening hours when deer may be more active.
Other than driver awareness and vigilance, prevention efforts can involve wildlife fencing, alert systems, and deer-culling programs. Fences are used extensively, most commonly on larger thoroughfares, and have been shown effective in reducing wildlife vehicle crashes by 80% to 90%.12 Animal detection systems using sensors to detect large wildlife approaching the roadway can activate warning signs to alert approaching drivers. Such systems have been installed in more than 30 locations in North America and Europe with variable effectiveness.12 However, there are typically no standards or guidelines for the collection of data about wildlife–vehicle crashes. Data are collected inconsistently and often haphazardly, and methods vary between states and agencies. Some transportation agencies do not collect this type of data at all. Without reliable, consistent data, it is difficult to identify road sections where mitigation methods may be required, to select appropriate mitigation measures, or to evaluate whether that effort is making a difference.
Culling systems for deer populations are frequently discussed, often in suburban as well as rural settings. Recreational hunting ordinances, higher limits on the number of females a hunter can bag, and occasional use of professional shooters can be applicable in less rural areas. Their effectiveness is debatable and tends to be time-limited.
Conclusion
This study highlights the fairly common occurrence and relative severity of deer–motorcycle crashes in an upstate New York setting, approximating published series from the Midwest. Helmet laws may lower rates of head injury in motorcycle–wildlife crashes. Finally, there are no fender benders when the chosen vehicle sports no fenders, so motorcyclists need to be especially vigilant in order to avoid collisions with deer and other wildlife.
