Collision with nature

Ten days after the accident, the GPS receiver stopped registering signs of movement. Even with a broken hip, he had dragged himself through the undergrowth for almost two weeks. The red deer did eventually die of his internal injuries. The time and location of the accident could be determined after the event with the help of the receiver, but there was no trace of the car involved. The accident must have caused considerable damage to the vehicle.
 
Every year, there are more than 230,000 road traffic accidents involving large wild animals in Germany. At the top of the statistics table are collisions with roe deer, which account for more than 80 percent of the total incidents. According to the figures published by the Association of German Insurers (GDV), the payments made by insurers in this respect have come in at an annual total of around 500 million euros in recent years.
 
In most collisions with animals, the drivers get off lightly, the only damage being to the car bodywork. Nevertheless, Helmut Körber, Head of Auto Claims at Allianz Germany warns: "Accidents involving larger game animals, such as stags, can be particularly critical for drivers. Often, however, dangerous situations can be avoided completely by adopting an anticipatory driving style." Drivers who see the animals crossings sign must take their foot off the gas and keep their eye on both edges of the road, according to the expert. But this is exactly what drivers fail to do consistently. If the animal is already in front of the car on the road, drivers should brake and sound their horn. Experts advise against switching lights to high beam. But there are numerous studies into ways to prevent animals and cars from crossing paths at all. However, none of these measures has yet led to a clear reduction in the number of accidents that take place.

Smart cars detect wildlife
 

"This is because all investigations to date have concentrated solely on before/after comparisons," explains Falko Brieger from the Forest Research Institute (FVA) in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The 34-year-old forestry expert has been investigating the effectiveness of game-related accident prevention measures for three and a half years. And for the first time, the focus is on the behavior of the animals. "The aim is to determine the effectiveness of animal warning reflectors based on changes in the behavior of larger mammals," explains Brieger with regard to the research project, which will take place over a period of five years. With the help of GPS collars which were put on the animals, the forestry expert is investigating the daily routine of the roe deer. "Using this method, we found out that deer can walk up to 40 kilometers in just a few days. It also lets us work out very precisely how often they cross certain roads," says Brieger. The FVA expert also hopes to acquire data which will let him see whether, and how, deer react to reflectors. This is the measure most frequently used along Germany's roads, and the most commonly discussed. Reflectors on guide posts at the side of the road shine light from car headlights into the forest. The light is intended to alert animals and keep them away from the road.
 

Johann Gwehenberger of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) is skeptical. Years ago, he assisted with a study by the GDV on the topic of preventing collisions with game animals. The results were disillusioning. Not even the reflectors could meet such ambitious expectations. Gwehenberger is therefore cautiously resting his hopes on technology in the vehicles. The AZT is currently developing standards for proactive frontal protection systems. In the near future, sensors and cameras will be able to help drivers of motorized vehicles to avoid or reduce the severity of accidents involving pedestrians. If, for example, a pedestrian crosses the street unexpectedly, the system will automatically trigger an emergency brake. The systems could react to animals in a similar way. "We pass information relevant to accidents on to automotive manufacturers, so that this technology can be developed to prevent collisions with animals as well," says Gwehenberger. Other driver assistance systems being tested are, for example, night vision systems which provide the driver with an early warning that an animal is in the vicinity. Nevertheless, Gwehenberger is sure that technology alone will not be able to prevent collisions entirely.
 
Green bridges could be the solution
 
This is why the GDV intends to organize a new research project to investigate whether there are infrastructure measures which could also help to better protect animals and drivers. "We don't mean continuous fences. Those would massively restrict the animals. I'm thinking of 'green bridge' wildlife crossings, like the ones on the motorway from Vienna towards Hungary, for example," says Gwehenberger.
 

A Road Ecology Center project at the John Muir Institute for Environmental Research at the University of California shows that science and technology complement one another well. In the summer of 2002, a camera-based Wildlife Protection System was installed on the highway through Kootenay National Park in British Columbia. The infra-red cameras installed at two kilometer intervals along the test route revealed the behavioral patterns of the animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As soon as an animal approached the road, the cameras triggered a light signal which warned the driver that they were entering a risk area. In contrast to the wildlife crossings, this system would be easy to construct and dismantle. This made it easier to cover seasonal hotspots, without restricting the animals' freedom of movement.
 

However, the test's most significant finding was perhaps the following: Drivers acted with a great deal more caution than they would otherwise, because they knew that the light signal only gave a warning if there really were animals at the side of the road. A road sign, on the other hand, is often ignored and the driver does not slow down.
 

The story originally appeared on Open Knowledge. Edited and modified by allianz.com.

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