Deer-Vehicle Collisions: Is There a Pattern?

Author: Rakesh Malhotra
Organization: University of Georgia

204 GGS Building
Department of Geography, UGA
Athens, GA 30602
USA

Phone: (706)-542-2338
Fax: (706)-542-2388
rakesh@uga.edu

Deer-Vehicle collisions are a common occurrence on highways of the eastern United States. This study uses aerial photographs and GIS to analyze deer-vehicle collisions at the Savannah River site, South Carolina. Vegetation, topography, presence of water bodies, and road conditions are analyzed to better understand their impact on such collisions. The spatial correlations between these factors, within 1,000 meter buffered zones around collision sites, are compared to the correlations at random points along roads. The results are then used to create a spatial model to identify conditions conducive to deer-vehicle collisions. It is hoped that by understanding these factors, management practices can be used to reduce such incidents.