I don't think we can blame the researchers. Or the motorists on the main road, which is not a "main" road lik e we're used to.
The roads are mainly dirt and the meerkats are very well camouflaged, being the same color as the dirt, as well as
so small that they can't be seen from very far off. And how many cute pictures have we seen of them standing in the middle of a road?
It seems to be that these are tragic but probably unavoidable accidents.