Development and evaluation of devices designed to minimize deer-vehicle collisions : phase III.

Details

• Creators:
  Osborn, D.A. ; Stickles, J.H. ; Warren, R.J ; Miller, K.V.
• Corporate Creators:
  Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Traffic safety
  • Wildlife
  • Deer
  • Traffic accidents
  • Animal behavior
  • Global Positioning System
  • Right of way (Land)
  • Fences
  • Accident data
  • Evaluation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA-GA-15-1235
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Georgia
• Corporate Publisher:
  Georgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Abstract:
  To better understand factors that might contribute to deer-vehicle collisions (DVC); we captured 32 deer within a 5-mile test ; roadway along Interstate 20 near Madison, Georgia and fitted them each with a Global Positioning System collar to monitor their use ; of the highway right-of-way (ROW). Deer ROW use occurred primarily during nighttime hours with about 37% of locations within ; the ROW occurring between 2200-0300 hours. Increased ROW use by female deer during May and June was likely due to females ; selecting the ROW for parturition. We also evaluated the annual distribution of DVCs in Georgia based on records of DVCs from ; 2005-2012 (n = 45,811) to identify peaks in DVCs for each of Georgia’s 159 counties, compared to statewide data on deer breeding ; dates. We observed high concurrence among timing of peak DVCs, peak conception, and peak rut movement. We also evaluated ; DVC risk based on the temporal pattern of DVCs; traffic volume; deer movement rates; and known frequency, timing, and landscape ; features associated with deer road-crossing activity. Our results indicated that DVC risk for individual motorists was high throughout ; the entire nocturnal period, not just during the crepuscular period as would be suggested solely by the incidence of DVCs without ; considering traffic volume. Also, the increased frequency of road crossings by deer in low-traffic, forested areas may lead to a greater ; risk of DVC than suggested by evaluations of DVC frequency alone. ; To potentially reduce DVC risk, we recommended: (1) targeted removal of deer that were frequent ROW users, (2) warnings ; issued to motorists about the increased risk of encountering deer in the ROW during late-night travel, and (3) modifying ROW habitat ; to help maintain ROW fences and reduce food and cover resources. ; For assessing the timing of the breeding season at a county or regional scale, DVC data are cost effective and less susceptible to ; measurement biases compared to traditional methods employing deer fetus measurements. In addition, mapping the peak occurrences ; of DVCs can be used to strategically warn motorists of increased risk within a few weeks of peak deer breeding at the county level. ; We also conducted an operational field trial to retrofit top-mounted outriggers to existing 1.2-m, woven-wire, ROW fencing. ; Despite repairing the existing ROW fence and adding the outrigger, access to the ROW by deer was not prevented, but these results ; were based on a small sample size of deer that had previously accessed the ROW. Repair and maintenance of existing ROW fencing ; for conversion to an outrigger-style fence likely was unjustified as neither cost-efficient nor adequately effective at preventing deer ; from accessing the ROW. However, the outrigger-fence design might be justified for new fence construction in un-wooded terrain ; and when used in conjunction with traditional 2.4-m deer exclusion fence to provide deer within the ROW a route of escape.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  13119
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29565/dot_29565_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.09 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:57ca6cba4b8c3fa015141bb5fa9899dbd35c455c574a8140fd13525fdde5f540