Zurich: New Wildlife Warning System for Drivers

From 7 March 2018, a wildlife warning system in the canton of Zurich will detect when wild animals are near the road. It warns road users and temporarily reduces the maximum speed on the short stretch of road to 40 km/h.

Forest edges bordering meadows and agricultural land are popular habitats for wildlife. At dusk, for example, roe deer leave the forests to find food in meadows and fields. The Albisriederstrasse at the foot of the Uetliberg runs through a so-called wildlife crossing zone and experiences particularly heavy commuter traffic at dusk. Since 2000, this has led to numerous collisions with wild animals; more than 50 animals have died at this location alone. A wildlife collision is also a traumatic experience for motor vehicle drivers. The vehicle sometimes sustains considerable damage, the accident must be dealt with administratively, and the images of the crash stay with those involved.

New wildlife warning system to prevent collisions

On March 7, 2018, a system of a new kind for Zurich is put into operation on Albisriederstrasse. When an animal is in the vicinity of the road, this is detected by the infrared sensors of the system. During this time, the wildlife warning sign lights up and the maximum speed for the critical road section of around 400 meters is temporarily reduced from 60 km/h to 40 km/h. Compared to conventional measures, such as static warning signs or systems intended to deter animals, Grün Stadt Zürich expects this active system to be considerably more effective. The positive experiences from the canton of Aargau, where four such systems are already in operation, confirm this. On the longest stretch in Switzerland monitored by this system, between Pontresina and the Bernina Pass in the canton of Graubünden, the number of wildlife accidents has been reduced to virtually zero since the installation.

Costs and Readjustment

In the first few weeks after commissioning, the system will be calibrated to local conditions. Readjustment will also be necessary from time to time during operation. The entire system, including all installations for the connection and surrounding work, cost 305’000 francs. More on the topic Environment and Nature Conservation.