Why you save amphibians at 30 km/h
20/2/2026
Translation: machine translated
Newts, toads and frogs are currently living dangerously. Many are currently dying on the streets. But you can help them.
Still February and yet almost spring: amphibians are now beginning to awaken from their winter torpor on land. With the knowledge: «I have to get back to my spawning waters.» They risk their lives to do so.
Despite amphibian fences and road closures, countless animals are currently being run over and crushed on the roads - unfortunately including many species that threatened with extinction, such as the smooth newt, the natterjack toad or the tree frog.
And this is exactly where you come into play.
Here you have to be careful
Animal welfare organisations such as the Network for Animal Protection (NetAP) advise the following:
- Watch out for amphibian warning triangles: they mark popular migration routes for reptiles. Avoid such road sections if possible. And be careful, especially on rainy evenings and in areas close to forests and bodies of water.
Source: Michael Derrer Fuchs/Shutterstock
- Reduce your speed: If you can't drive around affected sections of road, reduce your speed to 30 kilometres per hour. Why, you ask? Amphibians not only die under the wheels, but also under the floor of the car. If a car drives over them without rolling over them, the air pressure under the vehicle can drop sharply for a short time and cause internal injuries. The slower you drive, the lower these pressure differences are - and the more animals survive.
How to lend a hand yourself
If you don't just want to help passively, you can get in touch with your local authority or nature conservation organisations. Every year, they look for volunteers to carry the animals safely across the road. You can find more information on this database.
Source: NetAP
Have you also helped amphibians? Tell us in the comments.
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Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI love everything with four legs or roots – especially my rescue cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. I’m happiest following the scent of stories about police dogs and cat groomers – or cultivating thoughtful tales in garden flea markets and Japanese gardens.
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