Blue Reflectors Useless Against Wildlife Accidents

According to a study, the now widespread blue reflectors along roadsides are unable to reduce the number of wildlife accidents. In an investigation conducted on 150 test routes, the reflectors proved ineffective, said Göttingen forest ecologist Christian Ammer.

Number of Wildlife Accidents Continues to Rise

«The expenditure on the now widely used wildlife warning reflectors can certainly be saved,» said Siegfried Brockmann, head of accident research at the Insurers’ Accident Research unit (UDV). Approximately 275’000 collisions had been reported nationwide. Ten people were killed and nearly 3’000 injured in these collisions.

Switzerland: 20’000 Animals Involved in Accidents Per Year

Thanks to preventive measures, fewer and fewer accidents are occurring on our roads. This is not the case with wildlife accidents: the number of collisions involving animals on Swiss roads has remained the same for years. Recreational hunters bear part of the responsibility for the high number of wildlife accidents. Across Switzerland, a car collides with a roe deer on average once every hour, and the trend is rising.

Animals Ignore Reflectors

For their study, the Göttingen researchers, together with colleagues from the University of Zurich, analysed approximately 10’000 hours of video footage. «Around 1’600 encounters between animals and vehicles were documented in the process,» said forest ecologist Ammer. «Whether or not blue wildlife reflectors were present along the routes made no difference to the behaviour of the animals.»

Technical Improvements as a Solution?

Technical improvements to vehicles, on the other hand, would be both feasible and effective, said accident researcher Brockmann. One option, for example, would be the installation of infrared sensors. «If wildlife is standing at the roadside, such devices would warn drivers with acoustic signals,» said Brockmann.

Recreational Hunters Dispute the Study

Amateur hobby hunter Daniel Ammon introduced the reflectors in the canton of Bern. He rails: "The results of this study don't match our experience at all." According to statistics, however, the number of roe deer involved in accidents in the canton of Schaffhausen has not decreased in recent years — quite the contrary!

But Pro Natura also has its doubts about the effectiveness. "They can work in the short term. Over a longer period, however, the animals get used to the warning signal and barely react to it anymore," says Jan Gürke of Pro Natura. It would be more efficient to warn drivers when an animal is approaching the road. More on wildlife and on biodiversity.