A significant amount of money has been spent on the implementation and study of deer-vehicle crash (DVC) countermeasures in the last several decades, but their expected crash reduction effectiveness is still largely unknown. The complexity and interdisciplinary requirements of implementation and long-term study of the correct potential DVC countermeasure(s) in the appropriate locations has limited the usefulness and transferability of past studies. A need exists to create a focal point for the definition and implementation of DVC-related research. This pooled fund would allow for the creation of a DVC Information and Research Center (DVCIR Center) to more properly address issues related to the DVC problem. This center would expand upon the ongoing data and information-sharing activities of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) funded Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse (DVCIC) (www.deercrash.com) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Midwest Regional University Transportation Center (MRUTC). The Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Departments of National Resources (DNRs) from five states guide the DVCIC activities, but it has provided unbiased information to DOTs, DNRs, insurance company representatives, the news media, and local safety officials throughout the United States and Canada. The widespread significance of the DVC problem, its complexities, and the need for a well-defined, interdisciplinary, and multi-jurisdictional research strategy were quickly recognized by the DVCIC advisory groups. The DVCIR Center proposed is a mechanism to address these issues and the very limited safety-focused state-of-the-knowledge in the area of DVCs and their potential countermeasures.

This study will: -Expand on the critical evaluation of past and current research in the DVC problem area, and become the repository for safety-focused summaries of this work. Critically evaluate the validity of past and current DVC-related research. Summarize and disseminate the relevant study details, implementation issues, and safety results. -Expand on the existing DVCIC activities as a repository for deer population estimates, vehicle-travel amounts, reported DVC or animal-vehicle crash data, and roadside carcass (if available) information from participating states. Summarize and disseminate data by state and region and, as appropriate, define relevant trends. -Identify and prioritize gaps in DVC-related research, define a strategy, and create requests for proposal (RFPs) for projects to evaluate the DVC questions identified by participating states. Provide funding for properly designed DVC-related research. Potential research areas include: Identification and definition of DVC-related data sources, collection, estimation, and management techniques; Definition and/or prediction of the magnitude and locations of DVC problem segments; Evaluation of existing and potential DVC countermeasure crash reduction capabilities and their implementation issues; and Investigation of and options to DVC-related roadway development programming, planning, design, operations, and maintenance decision-making approaches and policies.

This pooled fund will create a focal point (and/or location of first consideration) for the collection of DVC-related data/information (e.g., deer populations, vehicle travel, reported DVCs, and roadside carcasses). It will also guide, define, and fund an organized strategy of well-designed and properly staffed DVC-related research. The focus of this pooled fund does not overlap with any other existing projects (e.g., the Animal-Vehicle Crash Mitigation pooled-fund), and should assist with the dissemination of the results from ongoing projects. The center created by this pooled fund is expected to become the primary resource for well-defined DVC-related data/information and research results, and an entity where only those projects that meet minimum scope, experimental design, staffing, and documentation requirements are funded.

$25,000 commitment per year. Two-year commitment requested. Research will be ongoing. Please contact John Glaze at WisDOT (john.glaze@dot.state.wi.us) to commit funds to this project.