News reports and statistics are clear on the danger of a road accident with a wild animal. Even more so if it is large like a bear. Which is why all interventions to increase the safety of drivers and passengers of cars, motorbikes, trucks, cyclists and animals are good news. Along the roads of the Monte Salviano Reserve in the province of L’Aquila you can observe the new anti-animal crossing bollards installed by the WWF within the protection of the Abruzzo Marsican bear, of which 14 specimens have died in road accidents in the last 50 years, from a total population of 50 or 60 subjects. An adult male Marsican bear can weigh up to 200 kg, the female weighs around 120-130 kg. The 80 km made safe by WWF experts were chosen precisely in those areas after the sighting in December 2023 of a female with three cubs. To also support this fund initiative, until Sunday 19 May 2024 you can donate to 45584 via SMS or call from landline.
ANIMAL ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD, THE NUMBERS
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According to estimates by Asaps (association of supporters and friends of the traffic police), they were 193 were the most serious accidents, or with deaths or injuries, in the year 2023 throughout Italy. The clashes involved a wild species in 170 cases, while those involving a domestic animal were 23. There are 11 registered deaths in total, with the vast majority of claims occurring at night or in the early hours of the morning. According to the WWF, the downward estimates of quantity of animals injured or killed on Italian roads it’s about 1 and a half million per year, counting only collisions with large animals. The numbers increase considerably when it comes to small species, which cause little damage to cars and are therefore almost never reported.
THE PROJECT
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WWF operations on the roads aim to mitigate the risk of clashes with wild species, in particular the Marsican brown bear, a project that is useful not only for wildlife but also for the safety of road users. Along the provincial roads of Abruzzo, signs have been installed on the vertical signs, on the edge of the road deterrents for called animals virtual fence (in Italian, virtual fences) which work by detecting the headlights of oncoming cars and discouraging the possible crossing of the bear via an audible and visual alarm. Since these devices face away from the road and therefore have no effect on the driver, they are powered by solar panels and could be applied in long stretches. The main problem is the cost: to be efficient, the system should be made up of two devices every 50 meters, but the single cost of the mechanism amounts to 70 euros. Another initiative implemented by WWF is the cleaning of underpasses currently closed by illegal waste dumps or wild vegetation.
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WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT
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Accident prevention campaigns are not always able to convey the dangerousness of the situations in which one may find oneself. Asaps suggests motorists to be Be careful on signposted roads at all times, with greater attention in the evening, night and early morning hours. It is also recommended to use low beam headlights as they could scare and therefore block the animal in the middle of the road. Rules of conduct for drivers in the case of this type of accident they provide for the obligation to call for help, in particular the forestry police or the provincial police, or if you are inside a protected area, the relevant park authority, describing the dynamics and giving the kilometric reference. The responsibility for recovering the fauna lies with the competent bodies: experts in fact advise private individuals involved in the accident against providing aid to the animals.
