FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wes Thimm
608-263-2684
Regional and National Experts on Deer-Vehicle Crashes
Will Exchange Views at UW-Madison Workshop
Department of Transportation safety personnel and Department of Natural Resources ecologists from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa will pool their knowledge about deer-vehicle crashes at the 2nd Annual Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse workshop on February 4, 2003 at the Pyle Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
The workshop is sponsored by the Deer-Vehicle Crash (DVC) Information Clearinghouse located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Clearinghouse was formed in July 2001 to evaluate methods for collecting deer crash data and to serve as a forum for information sharing on crash avoidance measures.
In 2000, DOT personnel estimated that more than 130,000 deer-vehicle crashes occur annually in the five-state region, causing more than 20 deaths, 4,500 injuries and vehicle damage exceeding $220 million.
A panel discussion of DVC-related stakeholders with representation that includes an avid motorcyclist and member of law enforcement, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance, the Wisconsin American Automobile Association, and a local governmental agency involved in a deer management program, will be led by DVC Information Clearinghouse Director Keith Knapp. The workshop will feature presentations by regional and national investigators. Representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources are expected to welcome participants to the workshop at 8:30 AM. Wrap-up is about 2:45 PM.
Invited speakers and their topics are listed below:
· Terry Messmer, Utah State University / Wildlife Crossings Toolkit and Study· Paul Garrett, Federal Highway Administration / NCHRP Synthesis 305 – Interaction Between Roadways and Wildlife Ecology
· Marcel Huijser, Montana State University / Challenges of Advanced Signing Technology Applications
· Shawn Riley, Michigan State University / Upcoming Research at Michigan State University related to Deer-Vehicle Crashes
· Bruce Leeson, Parks Canada / Deer-Vehicle Crash Reduction Efforts in Canadian Parks
A limited number of seats at the workshop will be open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis. Please call 608-263-2655 no later than January 29, 2003 to confirm that space is available.
Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse n Midwest Regional University Transportation Center
1415 Engineering Drive n Madison, Wisconsin 53706 n www.mrutc.org