Artificial intelligence has started searching for moose on Belarusian highways. How does it work?

Camera spots an animal — sign lights up

The system's operating principle is quite simple. A special crossing is monitored by cameras with video analytics. When they detect an animal approaching the road, drivers are warned with a light signal on the road sign and a message on an electronic display. The alarm works until the animal leaves the dangerous zone.

The Ministry of Transport emphasizes that the flashing sign on such a section means a real danger of an animal appearing on the roadway.

Almost 5 thousand cases in a year

The introduction of such systems is linked to the increase in accidents involving wild animals. In 2025, 4998 cases of wild animals found dead or injured as a result of road accidents were registered in Belarus — 32.3% more than a year earlier. In total, 5100 animals were injured or killed.

Most of them were roe deer — 3526. Moose were in second place — 1111.

The increase in such incidents continued into 2026. For the first quarter, the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen has already reported 932 road accidents involving game animals, in which 957 animals were killed or injured. This is 210 more cases than in the same period of 2025.

Possible reasons include an increase in traffic flow, a growing number of wild animals, and seasonal dispersal of young animals.

The society classifies the most dangerous roads in this regard as M2 Minsk — Minsk National Airport, M6 Minsk — Grodno — Poland border, M1 Brest — Minsk — Russia border, M4 Minsk — Mogilev, and M5 Minsk — Gomel.

Thus, the new system appeared on one of the highways where the problem of animal collisions is particularly noticeable.

Why is a moose particularly dangerous?

A moose, like any other wild animal, does not estimate the speed of a car and can unexpectedly change direction. This is especially dangerous at night: an animal illuminated by headlights can become confused, blinded, and start moving chaotically across the road.

Therefore, if a moose is on the roadside, one should not assume that it will necessarily stay there.

A moose came onto the road. What to do?

The State Automobile Inspectorate advises to reduce speed as much as possible already when an animal appears near the road, and not to wait until it is directly in front of the car.

If an animal has entered the roadway, you should give it a chance to leave. You should not sharply swerve to avoid the animal: a frightened moose may bolt directly towards the car. Honking is also not recommended, as a loud sound can make the animal behave unpredictably.

It is also worth remembering that if one animal has crossed the road, others may be nearby. Therefore, it is also dangerous to immediately accelerate after the animal has disappeared.

At night, the recommendations are even more specific: if an animal stops in the headlight beam, you should stop, turn off high and low beams, leaving only parking lights and hazard warning lights on, and give the animal time to leave the road.

What to do if a collision could not be avoided?

Leaving the scene of the accident is prohibited. You must mark the accident location and call emergency services: 102, and if there are injured parties — 103.

Approaching an injured moose is also dangerous. A wild animal in shock can attack.

Taking a deceased animal with you is also prohibited — the traffic police warn that such actions can be regarded as poaching.