Why Madhya Pradesh Is Painting Highways Red: How Chequered Roads Are Reducing Wildlife Deaths in India

Across India, animal-vehicle collisions have quietly become one of the most persistent threats to wildlife and road users. From national highways slicing through forest edges to rural roads cutting across natural corridors, the risk has only grown with rapid infrastructure expansion. Madhya Pradesh—home to some of India’s richest forest landscapes—has taken a surprisingly simple yet effective step: the introduction of red chequered highway markings designed to slow drivers down and alert them to wildlife movement zones.

Why Animal-Vehicle Collisions Are Rising

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India’s expanding highway network has brought huge economic benefits, but it has also cut through habitats used for centuries by animals such as deer, leopards, nilgai, wild boar, and smaller species. In states like Madhya Pradesh, where national parks and wildlife reserves are surrounded by busy corridors, roadkill incidents have increased significantly in the last decade.

The reasons are clear:

• Habitat fragmentation due to widening roads
• Higher vehicle speeds on newly paved stretches
• Night-time low visibility, especially in forest edges
• Lack of dedicated animal crossing structures

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The Idea Behind Red Chequered Highway Markings in MP

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Madhya Pradesh’s Public Works Department and Forest Department collaborated to introduce distinct red-and-white or red-and-yellow chequered road patterns in sensitive wildlife movement stretches.

These markings are not random aesthetics. They are intentionally designed to:

• Catch the driver’s eye instantly
• Trigger a subconscious speed reduction
• Signal an upcoming animal crossing corridor
• Highlight accident-prone zones, even in low light

Unlike boards that drivers often ignore, the sudden visual contrast of chequered patterns directly affects driving behaviour, making them one of the most cost-effective wildlife safety interventions in India.

How the Red Chequered Pattern Works: The Science Behind Driver Alertness

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The success of MP’s chequered highways lies in visual psychology. Studies worldwide show that sudden high-contrast colours—particularly red, yellow, and white—trigger an instinctive alert response in the human brain.

1. Visual Disruption

Drivers are accustomed to plain asphalt. When the road suddenly shifts into a bold red pattern, it creates what engineers call a “visual break” that forces the driver to pay attention.

2. Perceived Narrowing Effect

Chequered patterns make the lane feel visually narrower, nudging drivers to reduce speed naturally without enforcement.

3. High Nocturnal Visibility

Reflective paints and bright colours stand out even under low-beam headlights, crucial in forest areas where nocturnal animals often cross.

This aligns with LSI themes like:

• driver alertness road markings
• colour psychology highway safety
• wildlife movement visibility improvements

Where MP Has Implemented Red Chequered Road Markings

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These markings are most commonly seen in Pench Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh corridor routes, Balaghat, Seoni, Mandla, Satpura zones, and other forest-rich districts where wildlife frequently crosses state highways.

Typical locations include:

• Stretches between reserve boundaries
• Buffer zones
• Rural link roads connecting villages to forest interiors
• Areas with a history of roadkill incidents

Engineering Details: How These Markings Are Designed and Executed

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The red chequered pattern may appear simple, but its effectiveness depends on proper engineering execution.

1. Pattern Dimensions

• Square or rectangular blocks placed uniformly
• Width covers the entire carriageway
• Length varies depending on the risk zone

2. Material Selection

Most stretches use thermoplastic paint with:

• High reflectivity
• Strong bonding strength
• Weather resistance

This ensures visibility during rainfall, fog, and nighttime.

3. Anti-Skid Properties

Because wildlife zones often involve bends or slopes, the markings include glass beads or friction additives to improve tyre grip.

4. Maintenance Cycle

Regular cleaning and re-painting every 12–18 months keep them bright and effective.

Impact So Far: What the Early Results Suggest

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While long-term nationwide studies are ongoing, early indicators from MP show:

• Drivers reduce speed by 20–30% on stretches with red chequered patterns.
• Roadkill incidents have dropped noticeably, especially for smaller mammals that drivers previously failed to spot.
• Locals have reported fewer night-time accidents.

More importantly, the public awareness created by these markings has pushed other states to study MP’s model as a replicable, low-cost intervention.

How Red Chequered Highways Compare to Other Wildlife Protection Measures

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India and many other countries use methods such as:

• Underpasses and overpasses
• Animal detection warning systems
• Rumble strips
• Solar-powered blinking lights
• Fencing near high-risk zones

While these are effective, they also require high budgets, long construction timelines, and heavy maintenance.

In contrast, MP’s solution:
Costs far less
Requires minimal installation time
Works instantly
Can be applied anywhere wildlife movement is recorded

Challenges: What Still Needs Improvement

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Despite the positive signs, the approach has limitations:

• Some drivers still ignore markings
• Heavy rains can fade the pattern faster
• Wildlife tracking data is not always updated
• Lack of reflective signboards along the same stretches

To strengthen the system, MP needs:

• Continuous monitoring of wildlife movement
• Integration with intelligent warning systems
• Better signage
• Community involvement in reporting roadkill

The Way Forward: Building a Safer Road Network for Humans and Wildlife

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MP’s red chequered highways show that small engineering interventions can create big ecological benefits. As India continues to build new expressways and upgrade existing corridors, wildlife safety must not remain an afterthought.

If implemented across national parks, buffer zones, and known animal movement paths, this system can help:

• Reduce roadkill across states
• Improve driver behaviour on forest roads
• Strengthen India’s wildlife conservation efforts
• Promote sustainable infrastructure development

This approach deserves national attention because it bridges the gap between transport engineering, ecological safety, and low-cost innovation—a combination India urgently needs.

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