Effectiveness of Wildlife Warning Reflectors in Reducing Deer-Vehicle Accidents in Washington State

摘要

The effectiveness of Swareflex Wildlife Reflectors in reducing deer-vehicle collision rates was tested on SR 395 in eastern Washington State where high mortality rates of white-tailed deer had previously been recorded. Reflectors were placed in four test sections and alternately covered and uncovered at regular intervals during the late fall to early spring period from 1981 to 1984. During this period, 52 deer were killed at night in test sections when the reflectors were covered and six deer were killed at night when the reflectors were uncovered. This difference in deer-vehicle collision rates between the covered and uncovered periods is significant, indicating that the reflectors were effective on this highway during this time period.