Each year, 20-30 people are injured in accidents involving the likes of moose. This figure has remained largely unchanged over the years, even though the total number of recorded wildlife accidents has fallen. This is partly due to the fact that there are more and more vehicles on Estonia’s roads: according to the 2024 traffic census, the average frequency of traffic on national roads increased by 1.5% over the year from 1072 to 1088 vehicles per day.
“No one wants to get into an accident or harm wild animals, so it’s important as road users that we’re extra careful and keep an eye out for animals approaching roads,” said Villu Lükk, the head of the Environmental Management Department at the Transport Administration. “Animals often have specific tracks or routes they follow, many of which cross roads, so drivers need to be vigilant – particularly before sunrise and after sunset, when animals are more active. It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for them between coppices and near fields as well.”
Warnings are issued on roads with a greater risk of accidents involving wild animals by the use of ‘moose signs’, which should be taken into account when driving. These signs are installed in places where accidents have previously taken place or where wild animals have been seen to more frequently cross the road. In addition, road markings are used as warnings on sections of road with greater animal activity.
Wildlife crossing points have also been created on fenced sections of road in a number of places around Estonia, where warning signs are installed. On the four-lane section of the Kose-Võõbu road, a large-game detection system warns drivers of wild animals, which are able to cross the road at three dedicated points on the same level as the road, with special sensors registering their approach. These transmit information to variable message signs, which start flashing and reduce the speed limit to 70 km/h.
Moreover, last week the Transport Administration put warnings on variable information boards into effect in areas where wildlife crossings occur during the hours of darkness.
“Fortunately, drivers have obeyed these traffic signs for the most part, decreasing their speed when needed, which has helped avoid potentially unfortunate outcomes,” Lükk explained. “And it’s important to remember that if one animal crosses the road, others may follow.”
Urmas Salmu, the ‘Animals on the Road’ project manager for the Estonian Hunters’ Society says that on highways late at night, drivers should pay attention to the sides of the road. “If you spot an animal, slow down, switch on your hazard lights, try to pass the animal safely, or stop if necessary. That’s how you should warn fellow road users. Avoid distractions when driving and focus on the road. If an animal is already crossing, don’t use your horn, as this will have the opposite effect to what you intend – the animal may turn back instead of crossing to the other side. In 2021, the Emergency Response Centre recorded around 5500 collisions with large wild animals, but due to the rapid decline in the number of deer, there were 2000 fewer accidents in 2024. Every day there are at least 10 accidents on Estonian roads, and although the average deer weighs less than 50 kg, it can still cause a lot of damage in a collision. In addition, bears and lynxes are being seen more and more on our roads as well alongside moose.”
A map app of animal accidents can be found HERE.
The guidelines ‘What to do if you encounter wild animals on the road’ can be found HERE.
A map of where hunters recorded the large animals killed on roads last year can be found HERE. The map provides an overview of the most frequent sections of road affected by accidents.
