Moose-detection system failure 'unbelievable'

A safety advocate is astonished that a new system intended to prevent moose-vehicle collisions on the Trans-Canada Highway near Grand Falls-Windsor has already been knocked out of service.

The system, which was activated in November, uses a flashing light to warn drivers if there may be a moose on the highway ahead.

The system, however, has been out of service for most of the past three months, to the amazement of Eugene Nippard, a founder of the Save Our People Action Committee.

"For a system to be down on the Trans-Canada — not on an end road, but the Trans-Canada — for over two months, it's unbelievable," Nippard told CBC News.

"Why would it be down?  Now, we can't get any explanation."

The Newfoundland and Labrador government unveiled the system last year, in response to complaints that highway driving was becoming unsafe because of roaming moose.

Two systems were installed on highways, at a cost of $1.5 million dollars. The other was built near the Salmonier Line.

While the government says it is learning valuable information about the reliability of the sensors, although Nippard said officials could be doing more.

"Sensor systems work in other places. They will work in Newfoundland, but they can't be down, they [have] to be working," he said.

The government was expecting to have the system up and running again by the end of the week.