Experiencing moose and landscape while driving: A simulator and questionnaire study

Antonson, Hans; Jägerbrand, Annika; Ahlström, Christer · 2015 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.11.010

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates how landscape features, specifically vegetation density and the presence of game fencing, influence driver behavior and subjective experience during encounters with moose. Motivated by the significant economic, medical, and ecological consequences of animal-vehicle collisions (AVCs) and a gap in research regarding human behavioral responses to wildlife, the authors aimed to determine how these environmental factors affect driving speed, stress, and perception. The research sought to bridge the divide between statistical AVC data and actual driver psychology by examining both objective driving patterns and subjective feelings. The researchers conducted an experiment using an advanced high-fidelity driving simulator with 25 participants. The study employed a full factorial design manipulating six factors: vegetation (dense vs. sparse), game fence (present vs. absent), moose presence, radio warnings, speed cameras, and moose signs. Participants drove eight 9-kilometer stretches, with data collected on a 2-kilometer segment surrounding the moose encounter. Data acquisition included simulator metrics (speed, lateral position, braking), physiological measures (heart rate via ECG), eye-tracking, and post-drive questionnaires assessing stress and ease. Analyses focused on comparing driving behavior when a moose was present versus absent, using two-way ANOVAs to assess the effects of vegetation and fencing. Results indicated that neither vegetation nor game fencing significantly affected general driving metrics such as speed, variability, lateral position, or visual scanning when no moose was present. However, during moose encounters, the absence of a game fence caused drivers to slow down earlier and reduce speed more significantly (average reduction of 30.3 km/h without a fence vs. 19.8 km/h with a fence). Drivers also applied brakes earlier when no fence was present. Additionally, speed reduction was significantly larger when vegetation was sparse. Subjectively, game fencing made drivers feel at ease, whereas dense vegetation was experienced as more stressful and insecure. Participants reported that wild animals and dense vegetation were primary reasons for deceleration and feelings of uncertainty, while open landscapes and game fences promoted a sense of calm. The study concludes that landscape settings significantly influence driver reactions to wildlife, particularly in the presence of game fencing. While fencing does not alter baseline driving behavior, it mitigates the severity of speed reductions and braking responses during moose encounters, likely by reducing driver anxiety. These findings suggest that infrastructure countermeasures like game fencing not only reduce collision risks physically but also alter driver psychology, promoting safer and less erratic driving behaviors. The results highlight the importance of considering driver experience and landscape design in traffic safety planning to effectively reduce AVCs.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• external distraction
• rail grade crossings
• traffic density
• urban rural setting

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data, observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: tool software