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The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.

Title:

A Toolkit of Measures for Reducing Animal-vehicle Collisions
Authors:
Bridget M. Donaldson
Bridget M. Donaldson
Year: 2006
VTRC No.: 07-R13
Abstract: Animal-vehicle collisions are a growing concern in terms of human safety; costs related to injury, property damage, and disposal; and the viability of wildlife populations. These collisions are rapidly increasing throughout the United States, and Virginia is consistently ranked among the states with the highest number of deer-vehicle collisions, in particular. Federal and state agencies have consequently placed added pressure on transportation departments to implement measures to reduce these incidents. It is often unclear to transportation practitioners, however, which mitigation measures are effective and where, how, and under what circumstances to use a measure for a particular road project. Although determining a definitive solution for any particular situation is difficult, the toolkit developed in this study is intended as a "quick" guide to provide information on the latest research available on the effectiveness of various mitigation measures to reduce animal-vehicle collisions. More extensive information on one particularly effective technique, wildlife crossings, is provided to assist in implementation and design decisions.