New Reflective Moose Signs On the Way

Thursday, July 02, 2009 03:29 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The B.C. Transportation Minister, Shirley Bond says they may not have flashing lights and solar panels, but new, large, black on yellow reflective signs, warning of moose in the area, will be erected soon on highway 16 near the Tabor Ski hill.

“I read your story on the LED signs being stolen and immediately called the Ministry. New reflective signs are on order, I expect they will be installed next week” says Minister Bond. (click here for story)

Two solar powered, LED flashing light signs were stolen from their location near a mineral lick on Highway 16 earlier this year. The two signs not only warned of moose in the area, they were part of a study to see if this kind of signage would help reduce the number of wildlife collisions in that particular area.

Prior to the signs being installed, 1.5 animals were killed (on average) per year. Since the signs were installed, that has dropped in half.

Bond says there will need to be a little more information on the reliability of the solar powered signs before the Ministry would consider replacing those $4,000 dollar units “We are going to evaluate the best use of that technology, but I drive that stretch of highway regularly and I recognize the need for proper signage to make sure the public is aware of the high number of animals in that area” so the big, reflective signs will be put in place.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, July 02, 2009 03:29 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: try me on July 2 2009 3:39 PM

& how much more are these going to cost?

Posted by: doneright on July 2 2009 4:12 PM

Who cares what they cost if they save lives a make people think and it gets there mind off the cell phones and makes them pay attention to the road.

Posted by: rambleon on July 2 2009 8:06 PM

Aren't there a lot more variables to consider than just the installation of signs when looking at collisions? We're only comparing two years here...

Posted by: gus on July 2 2009 9:27 PM

I wonder what kinds of thoughts reflective moose think about.

Posted by: foxtrapper on July 2 2009 10:54 PM

That sucks--I really liked those flashing led's. We should go back to them but incorporate a camera with them. Damn thieves.

Posted by: acrider54 on July 3 2009 5:43 AM

I'm sure that will help drivers from slamming in to moose.

Posted by: havemercy on July 3 2009 7:46 AM

handy having the highways minister as your mLA, huh?

Posted by: diplomat on July 3 2009 8:14 AM

"We should go back to them but incorporate a camera with them. Damn thieves."

...so they can steal the solar panel, lights AND the camera!

Posted by: Wildlife Collision Prevention on July 3 2009 10:14 AM

Gus - what a clever comment about reflective moose!

There are a lot of variables involved in wildlife collisions and determining wildlife collision rates.

In a perfect world, there would be enough funding for a rigouous scientific study incorporating appropriate controls for traffic volume, time of year, moose population densities, roadside vegetation projects, application of road salt etc to determine pre sign and post sign collision rates. Also, the sign wouldn't be stolen midway through the study! However, trying to get that type of detailed and specific explanation into a news story is difficult. No one is drawing any statistically significant conclusions about the pre and post sign collision rates for these reasons.

Posted by: HD on July 4 2009 7:11 AM

Why don't we set up some moose in ditches from the taxidermist, THAT would slow people down!

Posted by: DPJ on July 4 2009 10:29 AM

Nice to see our own MLA reading Opinion250 site.

Posted by: bowzone_mikey on July 4 2009 5:03 PM

Signs will not help reduce Collisions...

I do beleive what will tho is we find out where the moose tend to cross the most and put Poppers there (Similar to the Propane poppers that are used on orchards to keep Ungulates and Birds away and similar to the ones used at most major airports to keep Migratory birds away)

Yes I realize you cannot line the highway from here to Mcbride with Poppers but there are some definate heavy traffic ungulate trails... Put a couple of poppers near there and the moose will move off ... thus svaing millions of dollars in Insurance ... possibly some human life as well as Wildlife

Posted by: foxtrapper on July 4 2009 8:06 PM

I still liked the flashing LED signs. Driving at night those signs jumped right out at you and brought you back from your night-dreaming to reality. I think they actually made me more cautious of the moose in the ditches that you can't see.
I would like to have the contract of building and installing (4000 each?). I could slam 100 of them together in a week,spend a few weeks putting them up and have a damn nice holiday for a year with enough left to buy a modest home.