Power-Wielding Shepherds Installed on Kazakh Roadways
Hitting the Road Safely: Kazakhstan Deploys High-Tech Livestock Solutions on Key Highways
In a bid to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers, Kazakhstan has rolled out a novel approach to deal with a pervasive issue - stray livestock darting onto highways. Ultrasonic devices designed to deter animals and electric fences called "Electronic Shepherd" have been installed on major highways across the country, beginning with the Mangistau region.
The innovative system, introduced by TОO “Kazakhavtodor”, spans over 3,000 meters of electric fencing along the km 723-726 section of the Dossor - Kulsary - Beyneu - Sai Utes - Shetpe - Zhetibay - Aktau port road. They function at 12 volts, creating a virtual barrier that keeps livestock at bay.
This initiative aims to combat a significant problem affecting Kazakhstan's highways. In the first half of 2020 alone, 16 road accidents due to animal collisions were recorded, causing 33 injuries and 2 fatalities.
Stealing wire mesh fences along republican roads and reduced visibility at night are contributing factors to these accidents, as animals often lack reflective bands. Road inspectors frequently find themselves rescuing livestock from the road and relocating them to a safe distance.
The "Electronic Shepherd" fences are expected to resolve this issue, with future installations planned in other regions of the country.
Here's a breakdown of the regions where road accidents involving livestock occurred in the first half of the year:
Almaty region - 4East Kazakhstan region - 2Jambyl region - 3Kyzylorda region - 2Mangistau region - 3North Kazakhstan region - 1Turkestan region - 1.
Beyond Kazakhstan's borders, several strategies are commonly employed to prevent such accidents. These include installing fences, effective livestock management, education campaigns, and collaborative efforts between authorities and local communities.
By implementing these measures, Kazakhstan could potentially reduce accidents, enhance driver safety awareness, and unlock economic benefits stemming from lowered emergency service, vehicle repair, and medical costs. Although specific data isn't available for Kazakhstan at this time, these strategies provide a blueprint for improving road safety across the nation.
Technology plays a crucial role in Kazakhstan's sports sector, as the success of the "Electronic Shepherd" technology used to prevent accidents caused by stray livestock could be applied to devise high-tech solutions for sports safety, potentially minimizing injuries on the field.
Furthermore, analyzing the data on regions with higher incidents of road accidents caused by livestock in the first half of the year, such as East Kazakhstan and Mangistau regions, could help sports officials identify the areas with the greatest need for improvement in sports safety infrastructure and implement targeted measures accordingly.
