Lithuania road safety: rising wildlife collisions and pedestrian visibility risks

As daylight hours decrease and autumn weather brings fog and rain, road safety concerns are rising in Lithuania. Experts highlight two primary risks: the invisibility of pedestrians in the dark and an increase in wildlife collisions.

Professor Artūras Jukna of VILNIUS TECH explains that reflective gear is a vital tool for pedestrian safety. These items use retroreflectors—small glass beads or prisms—to reflect light directly back to the source, such as car headlights, allowing drivers to react much earlier than they would to standard clothing.

Simultaneously, insurance data from Lietuvos draudimas indicates a significant rise in animal-related accidents. Collisions with wildlife increased by 41 percent in October compared to September, with November historically being the most dangerous month. The risk is highest during peak commuting hours and after sunset, particularly in forested areas near Kaunas and Vilnius districts.