Moose and deer meet smart technology

Moose and deer often cross the road at the gaps in fences. Therefore, the aim is to position the gap in the fence where visibility is as good as possible. However, deer fence gaps are still accident-prone places. In Nousiainen, a new type of active deer warning system is being trialled on Highway 8, where moose warning signs are accompanied by warning lights. They will only activate and warn drivers when deer or moose are detected in the vicinity of the roadway. The system also includes a human voice beacon installed at the northern junction of the Myn?m?ki road, which acts as a deterrent to moose and deer, directing them to cross the road at the planned gap in the fence.

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Deer and moose have centuries-old migration routes. When these routes are cut by a fence, the animals set off in search of a detour. Indeed, moose and deer often cross the road just at the gaps in game fences. Therefore, this replacement crossing point and the gap in the fence should be located in a field or meadow with the best possible visibility. In Nousiainen, such a road crossing is located on the section between the two junctions of the Myn?m?ki road on Highway 8, near the village of Repola. The completion of the fence in 2021 has significantly reduced the number of accidents on the fenced road section, but the animal crossing is still risky. In this gap in the fence, the number of moose and deer accidents has increased significantly. In 2022, a total of 12 deer and moose crashes occurred in the gap.

It is not possible to block the gap in the fence, and there is no funding to build a overpass or underpass. The only way to avoid accidents is to try to influence drivers' driving behaviour. Drivers' behaviour is influenced by raising awareness of deer and moose, improving deer and moose visibility and influencing driving speed to give drivers more time to react and avoid collisions.

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In Nousiainen, a new type of active moose and deer warning system is being trialled on Highway 8, with flashing yellow warning lights installed alongside moose warning signs. They are activated and warn the driver only when moose or deer are detected in the vicinity of the roadway. Before a gap in the fence, warning traffic signs warn drivers of the gap in the fence, especially in areas where moose and deer accidents have occurred. Passive traffic signs have a fixed message, which is therefore reinforced by active flashing beacons when the warning system detects a moose or a deer approaching the gap in the fence. Experimental efforts have been made to make the warning signs more visible by using road lighting and flashing beacons.

Infrared light and radar are used to detect the activation of the beacons. However, all detection methods have the potential for error, i.e. false alarms, which, if repeated, often reduce the credibility of the warning system in the eyes of motorists.

The system also includes a human-voice beacon installed at the northern junction of the Myn?m?ki road, which acts as a deterrent to moose or deer, guiding them to cross the road at the planned gap in the fence. No comprehensive studies have yet been carried out in Finland on these methods and their effects on driving speeds and accidents. The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southwest Finland, The Finnish Wildlife Agency and InnoTrafik Ltd have now launched a research project to investigate the functionality of the active warning system and its effects on driving speeds and accidents. The system will be supplied by InnoTrafik Ltd, a developer of intelligent transport equipment. The results will be analysed and a research report will be prepared by the University of Turku.

For the duration of the research project, a 24/7 video surveillance and monitoring system has been installed on the road section to verify the operation of the warning system, its impact on driving speeds and accidents. Researchers from the University of Turku will analyse the data collected and produce information on the key factors and risk relationships of accident situations under different conditions. The research will explore how to improve detection technology to minimise false alarms. It will also investigate whether active warning has a long-term effect on driver behaviour in reducing deer accidents.