Deer-vehicle collisions at the Savannah River Site: A GIS analysis.

摘要

Deer-vehicle collisions are a common occurrence on highways of the eastern United States. This study analyzed deer-vehicle collisions that occurred at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in order to understand factors that influence such collisions. Deer-vehicle collisions at SRS are more likely to occur in fall than in any other season, involve males and are positively correlated to grassy areas, and negatively correlated to buildings. Collisions in spring are more likely to involve females and are positively correlated to young open pine areas. In summer, collisions are more likely to involve females but no significant correlation could be found between vegetation and accidents. In winter, males and females are equally likely to be involved in accidents and such collisions are correlated with pine/hardwood mixed forests. Accidents are not random occurrences but clustered in certain areas, Over 60 percent of the roads segments have high or medium density of accidents (4 or more accidents per kilometer), and spatial density analysis produced nine hot spots for deer-vehicle collisions at SRS.