Authorities in the southwest of Finland have reported positive early results from their trial of a 'pedestrian crossing' for wildlife located near the town of Naantali.
The system, which warns motorists about animals attempting to cross the road, was launched on Tuesday.
A wildlife fence runs along both sides of the road, with a gap in the railing at a point that coincides with the crossing.
This gives animals a place to cross to the other side of the road, and a series of warning signs and lights alert motorists to the presence of an animal crossing.
"A radar detects an animal approaching the road, which triggers the warning lights to start flashing," explained Jaakko Klang, traffic safety engineer at the Southwest Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
High impact system
A similar system was previously tested near Nousiainen, to the northwest of Turku. Initially, the crossing contained no warning lights, and there were 10 recorded collisions in that area. However, after the lights were installed, the number of collisions with deer and elk dropped to zero.
"In darkness and poor weather, drivers reduced their speed by more than 10 kilometres per hour," Klang noted.
Finnish authorities have long struggled with the question of how to prevent collisions between cars and large animals, especially elk, a European relative of the North American moose. Although the number of such incidents are falling, there remain some significant accident blackspots around the country.
Colliding with an elk is the worst possible wild-animal-related accident that a motorist can have on Finland's roads. A male elk can weigh up to 700 kilos and their long, spindly legs combined with heavy frame mean collisions often lead to the animals landing directly onto the car's windshield and crushing the passengers.
According to Klang, the warning system installed near Naantali also reacts to smaller animals, such as foxes and raccoon dogs.
The system itself costs about 70,000 euros, which Klang said is a cost-effective way of reducing or preventing collisions with animals.
"An underpass or overpass built for wildlife costs millions," he pointed out as a means of comparison.
