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Community group urges targeted deer-collision measures; data show low crash share but hotspot concentration
Summary
Presenters told the board deer-related crashes account for about 0.87% of reported crashes in Montclair (34 of ~3,900 over 3.5 years) and urged targeted measures — dynamic signage, vegetation changes and seasonal detection — focused on identified hotspots such as Upper Mountain and North Mountain.
A group of residents presented analysis showing that 34 deer-related crashes were recorded in roughly 3,900 Montclair crash reports over a 3.5-year period (about 0.87%). "0.87 percent of all reported crashes... were deer related," the presenter said while outlining the dataset and methodology. The presenter added that carcass-pickup averages (about 37 per year) provide an upper-bound scenario and that there were no reported human injuries or fatalities linked to deer in the dataset.
The presentation identified geographic hot spots — several blocks of Upper Mountain, North Mountain and the Highland area — and recommended proven countermeasures: dynamic, changeable message signs that flash at dawn/dusk or during October–December; vegetation management to reduce attractants; and, optionally, animal-detection systems near the highest-risk blocks. Cost estimates were discussed (vendors quoted roughly $1,000–$6,000 per dynamic sign), and the board debated whether adding wildlife safety as a factor in the Complete Streets ordinance would help ensure engineers consider these measures during project design.
