The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rolled out a new technology-driven initiative to reduce accidents caused by stray animals on national highways, with a focus on prevention rather than post-accident response.
Stray animals crossing highways, especially at night and during poor visibility conditions such as fog and rain, pose a major risk and often lead to serious accidents. To address this issue, NHAI has launched a pilot project called the Real-Time Street Animal Warning System.
Introduced during Road Safety Month 2024, the pilot is currently operational on the Jaipur–Agra and Jaipur–Rewari highway stretches. The system detects animal movement in identified danger zones and sends alerts to drivers well in advance.
When a vehicle is about 10 km away from a high-risk zone, the driver receives a flash SMS on the registered mobile number, followed by a voice alert. These warnings are designed to prompt drivers to slow down and remain alert. To avoid alert fatigue, the system ensures that the same driver does not receive another warning within 30 minutes.
The initiative comes amid concerns over rising road accident fatalities in India, with national highways accounting for a significant share. If the pilot proves successful, NHAI plans to expand the system to other highway sections prone to animal-related accidents.