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The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) in the US has started a project to test a new detection system that can significantly reduce the instances of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Accidents caused due to collisions between vehicles and wildlife is a serious concern in the US, especially in rural states such as Idaho.

These collisions account for a loss of more than $8.4bn across the country every year, while last year, such collisions cost approximately $20m to Idaho.

The costs include human injuries and fatalities, accident attendance and investigation, towing, vehicle-repair costs, monetary value to hunters of the animal killed in the collision and the cost incurred to dispose the dead animal.

"Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a costly safety issue for Idaho travellers."

This wildlife-detection system aims to provide better highway safety, and reducing collisions, personal injuries and property damage in the state.

ITD has partnered with the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) of Montana State University to execute the project.

The initiative has been taken in response to the request made by ITD’s northern Idaho office.

ITD research programme manager Ned Parrish said: "Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a costly safety issue for Idaho travellers.

"Injuries and the loss of life, human or wild animal, are broad social and environmental concerns."

Developed by Boise’s Sloan Security Group, the detection system uses a Doppler-radar sensor installed, which is on a pole at a height between 20ft and 25ft above the ground.

The advantageous position of the sensor allows it to look over semi-trucks and locate wild animals on the either side of the road as well as on the road for several hundred metres.

The innovative system is connected to flashing warning signs that are used to alert drivers of the presence of animals nearby.

WTI is evaluating the detection system in a wildlife-crossing area on a part of the US 95 in Boundary County.

Parrish added: "The system has the potential to be moved from one location to another as wildlife movement patterns change.

"This would provide greater flexibility and be more cost-effective as compared to fencing and wildlife crossing structures."

Image: The wildlife detection system flashes warning signs to alert drivers of animals nearby. Photo: courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department.