Accident Reduction Factors Relating to Moose-Vehicle Collision Crash Types

This report presents the results of a study of the statistical significance of continuous lighting and/or clearing and grubbing of roadway corridors as measures taken to reduce moose-vehicle collisions. Individual analyses and a combined regression analysis were conducted to investigate moose-vehicle collision rates, given several combinations of variables. The variables included clearing and grubbing, continuous lighting, clearing, moose population, precipitation, snowfall, and maximum snow depth. Ten project corridors were analyzed based on the variables present; each combination of variables was analyzed separately. The results were reviewed to determine the most influential variables, and a combined analysis of all corridors was conducted. Some variables showed stronger influence on moose-vehicle collisions. The findings suggest that more factors contribute to moose-vehicle collisions than the variables considered. It has been hypothesized that moose related crash rates are dependent on environmental conditions such as snowfall and daylight conditions. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has performed many studies on moose vehicle collisions on the following corridors; Glenn Highway – Muldoon Road to Artillery Road, Glenn Highway - Hayflats, and the Knik Goose Bay. The Glenn Highway – Muldoon Road to Artillery Road project showed a significant drop in the number of moose-vehicle collisions after the installation of continuous illumination. The Glenn Highway project at the Hayflats, Matanuska River Bridge to the Parks Highway Junction, resulted in a 50% drop in the five-year average of moose-vehicle collisions after the installation of continuous lighting. This study showed that there is a consistent drop in the number of moose-vehicle collisions following clearing and grubbing, with the exception of one corridor. Similar to the clearing and grubbing projects, the projects with the combination of both clearing and grubbing and continuous lighting showed a consistent drop in the number of moose-vehicle collisions following project completion. The projects with clearing and grubbing as a component had varying trends in moose-vehicle collisions post construction, which may indicate that DOT&PF Maintenance and Operations performed clearing of re-vegetated areas or older growth is less of an attractant for moose.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 76p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01683681
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: Z586520000/RSA 2558049
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 19 2018 9:40AM