Deer and elk are unpredictable road hazards, but Virginia Tech researchers are working to reduce drivers' risks.
They’re studying elk activity on the corridor q roadway to identify high-risk crash areas.
The road has diverse wildlife, including a herd of elk, which pose dangers due to their size and behavior.
To minimize animal-vehicle crashes, researchers are testing animal detection and driver warning systems.
“So the animal detection system does not sort of alter that quality of the roadway. And so we can just sort of as humans, as drivers, react to how they are behaving with the roadway.”
Roe, researcher at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
These systems use cameras and radars, paired with warning markers, to alert drivers of nearby animals.
This research aims to enhance warning effectiveness while keeping costs low.