Lower speed limit may have reduced wildlife crashes

CODY (AP) — Authorities say lowering the speed limit on a Wyoming highway may have helped reduce the number of crashes involving wildlife.

KULR-TV reports that the Wyoming Department of Transportation announced last fall that the speed limit on Yellowstone Highway west of Cody would be reduced to 55 miles per hour at night from 65 during the day.

Spokesman Cody Beers said officials hope to change local drivers’ habits.

A study found the number of dead animals collected in the area dropped to 28 so far in 2017 compared to 49 in 2016.

But officials are cautious about drawing a direct line between those results and the speed limit, saying winter snow storms may also have slowed drivers down.