Council trials new ways to prevent collisions with wildlife

Published on 13 June 2018

Large signs urging motorists to slow down have been installed by Council on a Woodend road as part of an innovative new trial aimed at preventing vehicle collisions with wildlife.

Council has joined forces with the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network for the trial, which has seen large signs with the message ‘Caution wildlife – Reduce speed” installed on a section of Ashbourne Road where collisions with wildlife often occur.

Research has shown that traditional diamond-shaped yellow warning signs may not be effective at reducing vehicle collisions with wildlife.

On both sides of the road leading up to the two new large green signs are zebra stripes, which aim to raise drivers’ attention to the signs.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dale Thornton said Council is committed to both increasing safety of local roads for drivers and protecting valuable wildlife.

“Macedon Ranges Shire is home to large diversity of native animals including 62 threatened species,” he said.

“Roads are major hazard for wildlife that move through the landscape, and collisions with wildlife are also a significant safety concern for drivers.”

The new signs are also the first in the world to feature an icon of the Brush-tailed Phascogale, a threatened marsupial found in the shire. Research has shown unusual icons on signage can increase driver recognition and attention to messages on signs 

Many Phascogale are killed on roadsides in the shire, with several observed by Council Environment officers so far this year.

A vehicle counter system to measure motorist speeds before and after the signs has been installed and will be used to evaluate the trial.

Following the evaluation, a decision will be made on whether it should be extended to other sites.