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A Canadian wildlife-vehicle collision clearinghouse

Author(s): Shawna R. Meister, Robyn D. Robertson, Ward G. M. Vanlaar, Steve Brown, Luciana Nechita, Sara A. Oglestone

Slidedeck Presentation not available

Abstract:

Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) are a serious burden to our society and include significant road safety, environmental, and socio-economic costs. Although the number of fatalities due to WVCs may not be large relative to other road-related fatalities, they are still substantial and the accompanying number of injuries and collisions are significant. While various efforts have been undertaken to address the issue of WVCs, the means to better understand and reduce these types of collisions are considerably limited. The lack of quality data related to WVCs is by far one of the greatest challenges, while the absence of mechanisms to share research and practical resources across the wide variety of disciplines involved in WVCs is also a major limitation. Furthermore, educational information and resources for the public are limited in scope and in quantity, while some sources of road safety information contradict each other. In response to these and other critical gaps, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) developed a web-based resource to serve as a nation-wide centralized program of information on WVCs. Developed through evidence-based research and the use of TIRF’s Knowledge Transfer model, the Wildlife Roadsharing Resource Centre (WRRC) serves researchers, practitioners, and the public by providing a variety of content, tables, downloadable handouts and reference cards, factsheets, videos, bibliography, links, glossary, a blog, and other typical website components. Overall, the WRRC is intended to help fill a unique gap in information and education towards reducing collisions with wildlife in Canada and to increase the visibility of this issue.