Critical Issues - DVC Reduction Research and Data Collection

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Critical Issues - DVC Reduction Research and Data
Collection
Keith K. Knapp UW-Madison Deer-Vehicle Crash
Information Clearinghouse www.deercrash.com

• 2005 Fall Meeting
• Madison, WI
• October 24-25, 2005

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PRESENTATION CONTENT

• Research Deer-Vehicle Crash Countermeasure
  Toolbox
• Objective and Content
• General Findings, Category Conclusions, and
  General Recommendations (Safety Focus)
• Data Collection Regional Data Management and
  Information Survey
• Recall Objectives
• Conclusions and Concerns
• Recommendations

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THE TOOLBOX

• Objective Provide Detail Needed to
  Support/Defend DVC Countermeasure Application
  Decisions and Choices
• Current Knowledge Related to
  DVC Reduction Effectiveness
• Exec. Summary and Three Chapters
• 16 Countermeasures Considered

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THE COUNTERMEASURES

• Roadside Vegetation Management
• Hunting or Herd Reduction
• Exclusionary Fence
• Roadway Development Decisions/Policies
• Public Information and Education
• Wildlife Crossings

• Noise/Sound/Whistle Devices
• Reflectors/Mirrors
• Deer-Flagging Models
• Deer Crossing Signs
• Intercept Feeding
• Speed Limit Reduction
• Highway Lighting
• Repellants
• Deicing Salt Alternatives
• In-Vehicle Technologies

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GENERAL FINDINGS

• Multitude of References (500)
• Comparably Few Valid, and Well Designed and
  Documented Studies
• Many Conflicting or Inconclusive Research Results
• Variability and/or Validity of Data and Approach
• Time, Area, and Dollars

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GENERAL FINDINGS (Cont.)

• Definitive Studies of Countermeasure
  DVC-Reduction Effectiveness are Rare
• One Common Solution Unlikely
• Work Required to Match/Focus Measure(s) to
  Locations
• Definitively Exclude/Include Widely Used
  Measures, and Properly Evaluate New Measures
  Upfront

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COUNTERMEASURE CATEGORIES
10 of 16 Measures Used but Rarely/Never Been
Studied or with Conflicting Results

• Deer Whistles
• Roadside Reflectors/Mirrors
• Speed Limit Reduction
• Signs and Sign Technology
• Hunting and Herd Reduction

• Roadside Vegetation Management
• In-Vehicle Technologies
• Deicing Salt Alternatives
• Public Information and Education
• Roadway Maintenance, Design, and Planning Policies

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CATEGORIES (Cont.)

• 2 of 16 Measures Used with Generally Positive
  Results
• Exclusionary Fencing
• Wildlife Crossings
• 4 of 16 Measures Not Generally Used but Rarely
  Studied
• Roadway Lighting
• Deer-Flagging Models
• Intercept Feeding
• Repellents (on Roadways)

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CATEGORIES (Cont.)

• AASHTO Safety Plan Strategy Categories
• Experimental
• Tried
• Proven
• Concluded all But 2 DVC Countermeasures were
  Experimental or Tried
• Fencing and Crossing Safety Analysis Work also
  Stills Need Improvement

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GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Measures Used with Conflicting Results and
  Tried - Definitively Determine
  Positive/Negative Safety Impacts
• Measures Used with Positive Results and Generally
  Proven - Apply Currently Accepted Standards of
  Safety Data Analysis and Answer more Detailed
  Application Questions

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RECOMMENDATIONS (Cont.)

• Measures Used but Rarely Studied and Tried -
  Proper Study of Effectiveness (Replicate and
  Improve on Past Limited Evaluations)
• Measures Used but Rarely Studied and
  Experimental - Pilot Study Application with
  Currently Accepted Standards of Safety Data
  Analysis

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RECOMMENDATIONS (Cont.)

• Measures Used but Not Studied and Tried or
  Experimental - Initial Evaluations and/or Pilot
  Study Applications Required
• Measures Not Generally Used but Rarely Studied
  and Experimental - Proper Evaluation at a Pilot
  Study Level to Refute/Confirm Previous Individual
  Study Results

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REGIONAL SURVEY OBJECTIVES

• Share DVC-Related Data Characteristics and
  Collection/Management Procedures Used by
  Individual States with DVCIC Partners and Beyond
• Allow Proper DVC-Related Data Comparisons Between
  and Within States
• Allow Proper DVC-Related Data Combinations within
  Region Annually and from Year to Year within
  States

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SURVEY CONCLUSIONS

• Annual Deer Population Estimates done Pre- or
  Post-Hunt at DMU or County Level
• DNRs Rarely Consulted on Roadway Planning
  Projects about Animal/Vehicle Conflicts
• DNR Officers and Others Issue/Record Carcass
  Salvage/Possession Permits
• A Few Combine/Summarize Permits and Removals if
  Data is Collected as Estimate of Actual DVCs
  (Some Also Collect Location)

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SURVEY CONCLUSIONS (Cont.)

• For Most States Carcass Removal is Primarily a
  State and Local DOT Job - Done When Needed, but
  Usually not Recorded
• Reported DVC often Means Something Different to
  DNR and DOT
• DNRs Typically Not Consulted about Deer Crossing
  Sign Locations
• Similar Issues Occur Nationwide

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DVC DATA CONCERNS

• Typical PDO Data Characteristics
• Under-Reporting
• Specificity of Location
• Different Minimum Reporting Thresholds
• Relevant Database Locations
• Intra-agency
• Interagency
• Interdisciplinary
• Public, Private, and Non-Profit
• Federal, State, County, and Local

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DVC DATA CONCERNS (CONT.)

• Poor Documentation of Data/Terminology in DVC
  Summaries and Research
• For Example in Past Reports
• DVC Roadkill Observed, Roadside Permit
  Numbers, and Officially Reported Crashes
• These are NOT Equal in Magnitude or Location
• Possible that Best Data is not Generally
  Collected/Recorded by Location
• Lack of Species-Specific Crash Input

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DVC DATA CONCERN IMPACTS

• Definition of Overall Problem and Problem
  Locations
• Spatial and Temporal Combinations and Comparisons
• Understandability and Usefulness of DVC Safety
  Research Results
• The What and Where Questions of Implementation

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Continue to Encourage Activities that Increase
  Reporting and Locational Accuracy
• Properly Define Available DVC-Related Databases
  Statewide, Regionally, and Nationally
• Properly Document Magnitude, Trends, and/or
  Location of DVC Problem Statewide, Regionally,
  and/or Nationally

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RECOMMENDATIONS (Cont.)

• Encourage Quality Control of Standard DVC
  Countermeasure Research and its Documentation
• Pilot Study Collection/Recording of Roadside
  Carcass Locations - Compare to Reported DVCs
• Encourage DVC Countermeasure Implementation and
  Monitoring by Multidisciplinary Teams

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Questions and Discussion
Website www.deercrash.com