Critter Crossings Improve Highway Safety

Highway underpasses for animals make roadways safer for wildlife and cars, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at a new route planned for U.S. Highway 64 that cut through a forested and agricultural area in Washington County, N.C. The new road included three underpasses with fencing that ran alongside the road near each underpass to funnel animals into the underpasses.

The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management.

The researchers used cameras and animal track surveys to monitor wildlife activity. During the 13 months after the road was completed, the cameras took 2,433 photos of various animals using the underpasses, including deer, bears, raccoons and domestic dogs and cats.

When the researchers compared data from nearby sections of Highway 64, they found that wildlife deaths were 58 percent lower on the new part of the highway.

The findings suggest that the wildlife underpasses are a cost-effective way to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, said the researchers.

While I like the idea of underpasses to reduce accidents, the Arizona Highway Department has also experimented with a cheaper alternative that seems to be working well.  It was tested in areas where underpasses were cost prohibitive.  The alternative is a 'electric crosswalk.'  Basically fences funnel game to a specific opening where the crosswalk is build.  Using thermal imaging cameras and military-grade tracking software to capture large animal movement in the right of way the system then determines if the animal is large enough to pose a threat to motorists.  If so a flashing sign 500 feet from the end of the fence warns drivers.

Tractor-trailer hits school bus in Louisiana, 2 kids critical

Early this morning a JB Hunt owned truck slammed into the back of a school bus.  The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. on a straight, clear stretch of U.S. 190 between Port Barre and Opelousas, about 50 miles west of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.   The school bus reportedly had it flashers on and stop signs extended at the time of the wreck.  The bus driver apparently saw the truck bearing down on the bus and warned the kids to hold on in anticipation of the collision.  


The impact to the back bumper of the bus was sufficient to push up to the rear wheels of the bus.   For some reason, the truck driver has yet to be cited, although it seems clear that he was driving too fast and failed to keep a proper distance and lookout.  


As someone who has litigated tractor-trailer cases, it is very important to preserve as much evidence as possible and to do so quickly.  The driving logs of the truck driver need to be examined as well as his cell phone and texting records.  Also, data from all event recorders on the truck need to be downloaded immediately, to avoid any loss of data.  


Thankfully, emergency workers arrived quickly and efficiently dispatched injured kids to area hospitals where they received timely treatment.  All 21 kids were injured, 3 originally classified as critical and two underwent emergency surgery.   Let's all hope for complete recoveries for the kids and that JB Hunt and the driver take appropriate responsibility for the wreck.

Arkansas Behind the Curve

The Federal Highway Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and several state departments of transportation are promoting traffic roundabouts as safer alternatives to intersections with traffic lights.  Arkansas, however, is not one of the 29 states with a program to promote such roundabouts.

The Federal Highway Administration has more information and data on why roundabouts can be safer than traffic light intersections.  They site 3 specific ways that roundabouts improve safety at intersections by:

• eliminating or altering conflicts types
• decreasing speeds into and through the intersection
• decreasing speed differentials at intersections

Roundabouts can easily accommodate tractor-trailer traffic.  A critical design element that allows trucks to successfully negotiate a roundabout is the truck turning apron, which is located in the middle of the roundabout. This apron is designed for the back wheels of the trucks to drive over. This is accomplished by designing the curb to be mountable.

Mountable curbs are shorter than regular curbs and the concrete apron is colored to deter regular passenger vehicles from using it.

I have personally litigated a number of wrecks caused by tractor-trailer drivers making improper right turns.  I think properly constructed roundabouts would also help avoid wrecks caused when tractor-trailers make wide right turns.

The complete US Department of Transportation report on roundabouts is available at http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00068.htm