Engineers for Volvo are working on an innovative new system using cameras and radar that will help drivers detect kangaroos and warn them if they risk a collision.

The work is underway just outside Canberra in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and is based on a previous design used to detect animals such as moose and deer in Europe.

The engineers are looking to adapt the technology for kangaroos by researching their movement, shape and behaviour.

"It's a challenge because (the European creatures) are four-legged animals," Volvo Cars engineer Martin Magnusson said.

"The kangaroo has four legs but it's actually jumping and what we have seen so far in the park is its behaviour seems a little bit unpredictable.

"So it's a challenge to be able to detect it, to track it and to get the accurate position and movement of the animal."

Mr Magnusson said the system would warn drivers if there was a risk of a crash and if the driver failed to brake in time the car would make up the extra braking power required.

Kangaroo crashes an ongoing problem for ACT motorists

Canberra crash repairers said kangaroo accidents kept them busy all year round.

Engineer Martin Magnusson examines the kangaroo detection system Volvo is developing near Canberra. ( ABC News: Elise Fantin )

"They range from minor bumper bar sort of damage all the way to $10,000 to $15,000 worth of damage, replacing airbags, front of vehicles and so on," Jason Pajaczkowski from Autoco in Phillip said.

"A lot of people are very surprised about the cost of the repairs and how far the damage extends from a kangaroo due to the size of the animal."

ACT Roads said it tried to mitigate the potential for animal crashes when completing roadworks.

"In the existing network where there have been crashes with animals, say for example the Tuggeranong Parkway where in the last five years there's been over 60 crashes involving vehicles hitting kangaroos, we're implementing some measures after the event (such as) fencing and warning signs," ACT Roads Director Tony Gill said.

However, Mr Gill said there were only about 160 crashes involving animals in the ACT each year.

He said that made up about 2 per cent of the overall total crash rate.