Traffic Damages
There are multiple roads and railways crossing reindeer pasture areas. Hence, also accidents involving reindeer occur, particularly in the months of the polar night in November, December and January.
Be particularly cautious in the following roads (image below):
- Road 20, between Panumanjärvi –Taivalkoski
- Road 5, between Ruka – Kuusamo
- Road 82, between Vikajärvi – Kemijärvi
- Road 4, between Rovaniemi – Sodankylä
- Road 79, between Rovaniemi – Kittilä
- Road 21, between Kihlanki – Muonio
- Road 4, between Vuotso – Ivalo
The driver is not responsible for the compensation
In Finland, the Motor Insurers’ Centre compensates the reindeer killed in a traffic accident. If the reindeer owner cannot be determined, the compensation is paid to the herding co-operative in the area.
The driver is not responsible for the compensation of the reindeer.
The Motor Insurers’ Centre compensates also the reindeer deaths caused by foreigners. If there are damages to the car or people, those compensations will be applied from one’s own insurance.
Compensation does not cover loss
In practise, the value of a reindeer is greater than the paid compensation from the killed individual animal. Compensation does not cover the loss of breeding and it takes at least three years to have another reindeer in the breeding age.
The Reindeer Herders’ Association, reindeer herding co-operatives and reindeer herders are actively trying to find ways to decrease the number of accidents. So far, there has not been a break through. For example, collars with reflectors cannot be used as drivers may think that reindeer are humans. The reflective spray trial in 2014 awoke interest broadly around the world and was the best traffic awareness campaign so far. There were unfortunately some problems with the durability and utility of the paints, so the trial had to be discontinued.
