Effects of wildlife warning reflectors (“deer delineators”) on wildlife-vehicle collisions in central Wyoming.

Details

• Creators:
  Riginos, Corinna ; Graham, Morgan William ; Davis, Melanie ; Smith, Chauncey ; Johnson, Andrew
• Corporate Creators:
  Teton Research Institute, Teton Science School
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Traffic crashes
  • Wildlife
  • Deer
  • Warning devices
  • Evaluation
  • Field tests
  • Benefit cost analysis
  • High risk locations
  • Speed limits
  • Reflectorized materials
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA-WY-15/03F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Wyoming
• Corporate Publisher:
  Wyoming. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  The purpose of this study was to provide the Wyoming Department of Transportation with information about (1) the ; effectiveness of Streiter-Lite wildlife warning reflectors that had been installed in three locations within Wyoming’s District 5, ; and (2) preliminary analysis of patterns of deer-vehicle collisions across Wyoming and the habitat and road variables ; associated with collision hotspots. We evaluated reflector effectiveness in terms of their ability to reduce deer-vehicle ; collisions and modify deer road-crossing behavior. Using a series of experimental manipulations of reflectors, we showed ; that reflectors reduced deer-vehicle collisions by 32 percent and significantly reduced the number of high-risk deer road ; crossings (those in which deer ran into the road as a car was approaching). However, covering reflectors with white canvas ; bags – initially done with the intent of creating a control treatment that neutralized the reflectors – proved even more ; effective than leaving the reflectors exposed. White bags on posts resulted in 33 percent fewer collisions than when ; reflectors were exposed and significantly reduced the number of high-risk deer road crossings. It is likely that the white bags ; are more visible or reflective to deer than the red wildlife warning reflectors. A cost-benefit analysis suggests that the ; benefits of reflectors outweigh their initial materials and installation costs, but may not outweigh the net costs once ; maintenance is taken into account. Analysis of patterns of deer-vehicle collisions across the state showed that traffic ; volume, proximity to agricultural land, proximity to deer winter range and migration routes, and high speed limits are all ; strongly associated with high collision rates. On average, areas with a 55 mph speed limit have 36 percent and 55 percent ; fewer deer-vehicle collisions than areas with speed limits of 65 and 75 mph, respectively. Reducing nighttime speed limits in ; high collision areas may be a cost-effective strategy for mitigating deer-vehicle collisions in Wyoming.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  RS05212
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29527/dot_29527_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 54.07 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:82ada44c450cfb03192133493deaa79b76317eb70f748434d73840f1299d265599d72d6d76a0edcdefcb88f9a639697ac3d6593441d33fae0b3e57a4c71645f5