Driving in the dark: Deciphering nighttime driver detection of free-ranging roadside wildlife

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are dangerous for motorists; however, few studies have addressed driver detection of roadside animals, and none have evaluated detection of free-ranging wildlife. The authors used 24 volunteer drivers, infrared videography, a 75-km route, and free-ranging wildlife to quantify factors influencing (1) probability of wildlife detection, (2) detection distance, and (3) probability of dangerous encounters (i.e., detection distance < distance required for braking) for multiple species at night in South Carolina, USA. Detection probability of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was impacted by multiple driver, animal, and roadside factors. Deer detection distances increased by 20.99 m when drivers used high-beam headlights and 23.36 m when deer were moving but decreased by 0.71 m for every minute into a drive. Every encounter with wild pigs (Sus scrofa) and most encounters with small mammals were considered dangerous. The authors' findings suggest most drivers cannot safely detect deer, wild pigs, and small mammals at night.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103873
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920923002705
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13619209
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Pakula, Carson J
  • Guenin, Shane
  • 0000-0003-0327-4261
  • Skaggs, Jonathon
  • Rhodes Jr, Olin E
  • DeVault, Travis L
• Publication Date: 2023-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 103873
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
  • Volume: 122
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1361-9209
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animal vehicle crashes; Detection and identification; Driving behavior; Headlamps; Night vision; Wildlife
• Geographic Terms: South Carolina
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01891347
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 2023 9:28AM