Colorado tests high tech roadkill prevention system
Sure, electric cars could help lower CO2 emissions, but there's one ecological problem they don't solve: roadkill. In fact, there's probably an argument to be made that animals that live near major roadways will be in even greater danger when the "eerily quiet" EVs hit the roads. So, how do we deal with this roadkill conundrum? Well, you can do what Maryland did, and start a deer composting program. Or you can start working on a futuristic alert system that warns drivers when large animals are near the road.Highway planners in Colorado are currently testing such a system on a stretch of US 160 where officials claim that an almost unbelievable 70% of collisions involve animals crossing the road. The system consists of a cable that's buried parallel to the road, emitting an electromagnetic field that's configured to detect large animals like deer or elk. When the system is tripped, electronic signs alert drivers of the animals while radar guns are used to determine whether drivers actually slow down. Apparently, the technology was originally developed for prisons.
[via Treehugger]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-09-2008 @ 9:23AM
jacqueline church said...
This is also a problem with hybrid cars and blind people. People who rely on being able to HEAR cars running red lights or turning corners with or without right of way are in danger with the near-silent hybrid cars.
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10-12-2008 @ 1:57PM
jessica said...
There is also something called a Deer whistle that attaches to the front of your car (its the size of a peanut) and as you drive, the wind passes through it, emitting a high pitched whistle, alerting animals that something is coming...these have been around for decades, and only cost like $5. The money, technology, and time spent on all that research (electromagneting cables under the road and whatnot) could go to a better cause. Sometimes the better anwer IS the easier one.
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10-12-2008 @ 1:57PM
eirefairie@yahoo.com said...
My dad had this put on our cars in VA, and they do work!
Especially since one of the main dangers at night is deer and sometimes loose hunting dogs are crossing the highways and local roads. I cannot even mention the the foggy days and nights where visibility makes seeing impossible.
Wasting money on the other electrical impulses is just a waste of taxpayers money. If cars are going more silent than Hondas, we need to have the bumpers installed with the whistles. As for pedestrian traffic in cities, I completely understand the difficulties that will present. I have no solutions for that. Although, rough bump ridges that are layed out on the street before stop signs is a unique possiblity??