Commission actions to reduce dvcs UPDATED

The following email was reprinted with the author's permission.

 
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 10:29 AM
Subject: Commission actions to reduce dvcs
To: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>, Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>


Commissioners,

I would like to ask what specific actions the municipality is currently taking -- other than discussing the need to kill deer  -- to reduce deer vehicle collisions by 50% over the next few years.

When I spoke at last night's meeting, I emphasized the direct and well established correlation between deer mating season, which is going on right now, and increased deer vehicle collisions (nearly half of PA dvcs occur in Oct or Nov alone).  Articles educating motorists of the increased likelihood of dvcs this time of year are being put out by newspapers, the Game Commission, insurance companies, and PennDOT.  Yet, I have seen or heard nothing from the municipality in the way of driver education on this matter despite your insistence that deer-vehicle collisions are such a pressing safety matter that it justifies bringing hunters and guns into our community for the sake of public safety.

The deer are one factor in deer-vehicle collisions. Surely there are others?  Drivers play an important -- and more influential -- role, and roadway conditions are important too. Those are factors we can have some influence on.  The Game Commission, PennDOT, and insurance companies all focus on public education to try to reduce dvcs.  In contrast, it seems to me that our municipality is focusing only on killing deer, even when sterilization could impact this problem directly as it would eliminate much of the mating-related behavior that is responsible for many dvcs.  

Maybe I am mistaken, and there are other actions being taken right now.  Could you please identify what those actions might be and how/where they are being implemented?

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Alsko

Update October 27, 2015 5:25 PM Thank you, Barb!

From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 3:46 PM
Subject: LeboALERT: Deer are very active...
To: EGillen476@aol.com

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

Deer are very active now.  Please drive carefully to avoid crashes.  Find tips  on deer behavior and safe driving at www.mtlebanon.org.