A stretch of the Monaro Highway near Cooma is being used to trial technology designed to warn drivers when wildlife is on or near the road.
Dylan Anderson
The NSW Government’s Protective Animal Warning System, known as PAWS, combines roadside cameras, artificial intelligence and smart signs. The aim is simple: give drivers a real-time warning before an animal strike becomes a crash.
How PAWS works
Heat-sensing and optical cameras watch for animals on or near the road. An AI model has been trained to identify species including kangaroos, deer and wombats.
When the system detects wildlife, smart roadside signs light up to warn approaching drivers. It is intended to be especially useful at dawn and dusk, when animal movement, darkness and higher speeds can make the Monaro Highway particularly risky.
Where drivers will see it
The trial is on a high-risk section of the Monaro Highway near Cooma. NSW says that location was selected because frequent wildlife movement, limited street lighting and highway speeds create a higher chance of a collision.
The technology is a live roadside trial, not a statewide rollout. Transport for NSW will monitor how it performs before deciding whether it could be used at other high-risk locations.
Important catch
A warning from PAWS is not a substitute for driving to the conditions. Wildlife can move quickly and the system is being tested, so drivers should still stay alert and slow down safely when an animal hazard is ahead.
NSW says the trial complements measures already used on regional roads, including fencing, wildlife crossings and vehicle-activated signs.
Source: NSW Government media release, 18 July 2026.
Dylan Anderson
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