Car accidents involving wrong-way drivers have become more common in recent years, even as the overall crash rate has fallen, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Unfortunately, Arizona is not immune from the problem. In 2009, 23 people in Arizona died in motor vehicle accidents caused by a driver who drove against traffic.
To remedy the problem, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is testing new prevention methods. One of the new methods is a radar-based car detection system. The system works by alerting highway patrol officers when a wrong-way driver enters a freeway. The system also alerts other drivers on the freeway by flashing an alert on message boards on the freeway.
In addition to the electronic system, ADOT is also considering lowering "wrong way" signs to eye level for easier viewing. Recently, ADOT installed raised pavement markings on select off-ramps. The markings are invisible in the correct direction of traffic, but reflect a red light if viewed by a wrong-way driver. Engineers hope that the right balance of old-fashioned signage and new electronic safeguards will significantly reduce the number of car accidents involving wrong-way drivers.
The Dangers of Wrong-Way Driving
When wrong-way drivers are involved in an accident, the results are often devastating. As the collisions caused involve more powerful impacts than normal collisions, these types of car accidents are often more severe. According to research conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute, half of wrong-way collisions kill or disable the driver.
The type of drivers who cause wrong-way car accidents is unsurprising. NHTSA statistics show that drunk drivers are the cause of more than 75 percent of all wrong-way crashes. In addition, wrong-way drivers tend to be some of the worst drivers on the road, as they generally have more traffic violations and have been involved in more accidents than the average driver has.
