Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse

STATEWIDE AND UPPER MIDWEST SUMMARY OF DEER-VEHICLE CRASH AND RELATED DATA FROM 1993 TO 2003:

Iowa Data

10-Year Report: | Summary | Figures | Data Table | Download Entire Report (doc) | Download Entire Report (pdf) |

This report used only a portion of the data available from Iowa.
To view all Iowa data, including the most recent data available, please CLICK HERE.

Iowa Data Summary
From 1993 to 2000 the average percentage of all crashes reported in Iowa that were AVCs was approximately 11.6 percent. However, the annual total number of reported AVCs increased from 1993 to 1996, decreased until 2000, and then increased from there to 2002/2003. An evaluation of the Iowa AVC-related data showed the following general patterns:

• The annual total number of crashes reported and summarized in Iowa has generally decreased from 1993 to 2003 (See Figure 1). The total annual number of reported crashes was greatest in 1996 at 78,360, but only 59,190 in 2003. The AVMT in Iowa has consistently increased during the study time period (See Figure 2).

• There was an increasing trend in the annual number of AVCs reported in Iowa from 1993 to 1996, a decreasing trend from 1996 to 2000, and an increase from 2000 to 2002/2003 (See Figure 3). However, the percentage of total crashes represented by AVCs has generally increased from 9.5 to 14.2 percent (See Figure 4).

• The annual number of injuries and fatalities due to AVCs ranged from 461 to 888 between 1993 and 2003. There were a total of 30 AVC fatalities during these 11 years. The number of injuries and fatalities due to AVCs increased dramatically from 1993 to 1997 and decreased from 1997 to 2003.

• The AVC rate (i.e., the number of AVCs per HMVMT) increased from 1993 to 1996 and then generally decreased from 1997 to 2003. This measure peaked at 31.5 AVCs per HMVMT in 1996 and was at 26.7 AVCs per HMVMT in 2003.

• Iowa also provided annual deer population estimates and annual carcass removal numbers from 1993 to 2003. Figure 7 shows that the annual deer population estimates have increased from 198,589 in 1993 to 315,809 in 2003 (a 59 percent increase). The number of carcasses removed from the roadside, on the other hand, has been approximately 1.4 to 1.6 times greater than the number of AVCs reported annually. This difference has varied from year to year (See Figure 8).

Figures

FIGURE 1 Total crashes reported in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

FIGURE 2 Annual vehicle-miles-traveled in Iowa (1993 to 2003).

FIGURE 3 Reported animal-vehicle crashes in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

FIGURE 4 Percent animal-vehicle crashes in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

FIGURE 5 Number of animal-vehicle crash fatalities and injuries in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.

FIGURE 6 Animal-vehicle crash rate per 100 million vehicle-miles-traveled in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

FIGURE 7 Post-hunt deer population estimates and animal-vehicle crashes in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

FIGURE 8 Roadside carcass removals and reported animal-vehicle crashes in Iowa (1993 to 2003).
Note: Crash data from 2001 excluded due to a change in safety data management procedures during that year.
Minimum property damage reporting threshold changed from $500 to $1,000 in mid-1997.

Iowa Data Table

This report used only a portion of the data available from Iowa. To view all available Iowa data, please CLICK HERE.