When animals attempt to cross a roadway, the results can be hazardous for everyone. In Iowa, crashes between vehicles and large wildlife like deer can pose a serious threat. But dangers also exist when vehicles swerve to avoid an animal in the road, or when drivers stop to help an animal across.
Even lesser known are the risks for smaller animal species like reptiles and amphibians. For these populations, roads that bisect a natural habitat can inhibit migration and affect animals' habits during mating season.
World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day – this year on October 10 – serves as an annual reminder of the importance of keeping animals off roadways, for the health and safety of humans and animals alike.
Since 2017, Iowa DOT Research has partnered with other transportation agencies in the United States and Canada on the Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity Pooled Fund. Together, the group works to identify potential solutions for keeping animals off roadways without restricting safe passage – such as tunnels, fences, and noisemakers – as well as strategic messaging that can effectively increase driver awareness.
By sharing the costs of research, each agency can benefit from the findings with less financial investment than they would spend on their own.
Learn more about Iowa DOT Research’s commitment to safety for all road users on the Ideas site.
Delivering targeted solutions for Iowa's transportation future.
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