Protecting wildlife near highways

A Public Policy Exchange Symposium: The Role of Local Authorities in Safeguarding Wildlife on Local Highways: Protecting Wildlife and Improving Road Safety was held on 3rd May as part of an ongoing campaign to promote deer wildlife awareness on UK roads. The British Deer Society writes: "Protecting wildlife near highways and trunk roads is becoming increasingly problematic for local highway authorities. Lack of resources to tackle the problem is a recurring theme for many who try to prevent wildlife vehicle collisions.

"In July 2016 the Local Authority Roads (Wildlife Protection) Bill passed through its first reading in Westminster. This Bill was expected to have its second reading on Friday 3 February 2017 but has since been dropped by the sponsoring MP and will not progress any further. The Bill was set to place a duty on local highways agencies and local transport authorities to make provisions safeguarding wildlife on roads passing through, or adjacent to, specified protected areas; and for connected purposes.

"In light of recent political developments, this symposium provided a much needed opportunity to highlight solutions for protecting wildlife by discussing enhanced fencing, clearer signage and inclusion of animal crossings to be incorporated at the planning stages of new road projects. The event also offered an opportunity to further build on partnerships between local highway authorities and wildlife conservation trusts in order to establish sufficient research surrounding the wildlife vehicle collisions. The recurring theme throughout the day was a need for a more collaborative approach to data sharing, an approach we whole heartedly support.

"Across the UK it is estimated that there could be between 40,000 - 74,000 deer-related motor vehicle accidents this year alone, resulting in 400 to 700 human injuries and more shockingly, 20 deaths. The combined economic impact of injury accidents and car damage is likely to exceed £50 million per annum.

• 1.5 million deer live wild in Britain


• There are six main species of deer


• There are up to 74,000 deer related traffic accidents in the UK each year


• There are several hundred human injuries and even human fatalities each year as a result