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Animal detection systems detect large animals, for example deer and elk, as they approach the road. When an animal is detected, signs are activated that warn drivers that large animals may be on or near the road at that time. The warning signs urge the driver to pay more attention, reduce vehicle speed, or both. This should then lead to fewer or less severe collisions, reduced property damage and improved safety for humans, and fewer dead or injured animals. While animal detection systems have reduced collisions with large mammals with 58-99% elsewhere, they should still be considered experimental.

As part of a research project, the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) installed an animal detection system with associated warning signs along a 0.6 mile section of Hwy 3 near Fort Jones, California in September 2009. This road section has a history of collisions with black-tailed deer. In addition to the actual animal detection system, equipment was installed to investigate the reliability of the system in detecting black-tailed deer and the effect of the warning system on vehicle speed and other aspects of driver behavior. This research is conducted by California PATH program of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University.

Animal detection systems are or have been installed at more than 30 locations throughout Europe and North America. While the reliability and effectiveness data are encouraging for some systems, many of the detection technologies go through a process of identifying and addressing problems that may first show when they are installed along a real road with challenging environmental conditions. Therefore most animal detection systems should be considered experimental.

For a summary of how the animal detection system works:

Click here for more information on how the animal detection systems works.

For public notifications on the operational status of the animal detection system:

Click here for public notifications.

If you have driven the road section with the animal detection system near Fort Jones and would like to participate in a survey that documents the opinions and experiences of drivers with the animal detection system:

Click here to participate in the survey.

If you have questions about the project you can contact:

Ashkan Sharafsaleh, P.E.

Senior Research & Development Engineer

UC Berkeley 
California PATH Program

Office: (510) 665-6716
Email:
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www.path.berkeley.edu

or

Marcel P. Huijser, PhD
Research Ecologist
Road Ecology Program
Western Transportation Institute (WTI)

Montana State University
PO Box 174250
Bozeman, MT  59717-4250
Telephone:  (406) 543-2377

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.westerntransportationinstitute.org