Deer-Vehicle Crash Countermeasures Effectiveness Research Review

During the last two years an extensive review of deer-vehicle crash (DVC) countermeasure documentation has been completed. Research and/or documents related to 16 different countermeasures were reviewed and are currently being summarized in a DVC Countermeasures Toolbox. An example of some of the countermeasure research reviewed includes documents related to deer whistles, warning signs and technologies, and roadside reflectors. The results of the ongoing countermeasures review contained in the toolbox are summarized in this paper. The toolbox is one of the first products from the Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse (DVCIC). The DVCIC is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and five states in the Upper Midwest (i.e., Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin) are currently involved with the project. The final version of the DVC Countermeasures Toolbox, and the results of a DVC data management and characteristics survey should be completed by the end of 2003. These products, along with suggested standards for DVC countermeasure research and a regional data summary, are expected to be resources for transportation decision-makers.