MDOT, Michigan State Police, Work to Combat Wrong-Way Driving

The Michigan Department of Transportation wants to reduce the frequency of wrong-way driving incidents in Metro Detroit in 2018. With help from the Michigan State Police and the Southeast Michigan Transportation Operations Center, transportation engineers are reviewing incidents to better understand how drivers end up going the wrong way.

The agencies have set a goal of reducing the number or wrong-way incidents by 20% between July 2017 and July 2018.

MDOT and MSP’s plans include making drivers more aware during any active wrong-way situations by posting alerts on roadside message signs. MDOT has also begun placing wrong-way arrow markings on freeway ramps, and installed detection cameras so the MSP and other authorities can be quickly notified about any wrong-way drivers.

"Because of the unpredictability of wrong-way crashes, the MDOT SEMTOC has been tracking reports of wrong-way drivers in an effort to identify frequent locations of wrong-way entry, along with deploying messages when wrong-way drivers are reported," said MDOT Metro Region Traffic Safety Engineer Josh Carey. "These messages on the freeway digital message signs alert the drivers who are traveling in the correct direction of the possible wrong-way driver ahead."

MSP and SEMTOC are currently recording locations of confirmed wrong-way drivers, allowing engineers to review incidents in the field so they can decide which countermeasures are most appropriate. Methods MDOT uses to alert wrong-way drivers include a lane separator system made of plastic curb and reflective panels, which physically bar a driver from proceeding in the wrong direction.

"MDOT has instituted a protocol to alert motorists on the electronic signs that there's someone going the wrong way, so other drivers can be alerted," MSP Lt. Mike Shaw said. "We don't catch all wrong-way drivers during an event, but when you get a crash with a wrong-way driver, it's usually a fatal because of the speed. We've had eight fatalities in the last five years."

What should you do if you find yourself heading the wrong way on the interstate? Lt. Shaw had basic advice.

“If you are on the freeway, pull over to the closest shoulder and wait for traffic to clear, then turn around or call 911 and law enforcement will help get you turned around,” Shaw said. “If on a busy [street], it will be the same. Just a lot easier as traffic will be going a lot slower,” he added.

Image via Michigan State Police.