Wildlife warning system cuts collisions to zero in Finnish trial

A new wildlife detection system in Naantali, Finland, has successfully warned drivers of animals crossing the road, with a moose using the designated gap in a wildlife fence on the first night it was installed, according to a report by Yle.

The system, activated on Tuesday on Rymättylä Road in Luonnonmaa, uses radar to detect animals approaching the road. When an animal is detected, flashing warning lights activate alongside existing wildlife crossing signs. The gap in the fence allows animals to cross safely to the other side.

A similar system tested on Highway 8 in Nousiainen reduced collisions from ten in the first year to zero after installation. Drivers were observed reducing their speed by about 20 km/h in poor visibility conditions, said Jaakko Klang, a traffic safety engineer at the Southwest Finland Vitality Centre.

The Luonnonmaa system includes a monitoring camera, which captured a moose triggering the lights and crossing the road on the first night. The entire system costs approximately €70,000, a figure expected to drop as the technology develops.

Klang noted that such warning systems are a cost-effective alternative to wildlife underpasses or overpasses, which can cost millions. The system also reacts to smaller animals like foxes and raccoon dogs, offering broader protection for wildlife and reducing the risk of accidents caused by drivers swerving to avoid animals.