New Alert System Stops 10 Wrong Way Drivers

[cpzilliacus]

CBS Miami: New Alert System Stops 10 Wrong Way Drivers

Newly released numbers show flashing light wrong way signs being tested in South Florida are showing promising results.

A local family who supports the plan said that part two of the proposal to stop wrong way drivers would really make a difference.

Gary Catronio lost his daughter Marisa and her best friend Katie Ferrante to a wrong way driver on the Sawgrass in November 2013.

He was pushing for the pilot program with flashing lights to be put in place should someone drive the wrong way up a ramp. The signs are being tested now and next would be a possible part two.

Gary Catronio, said, "It is actually on the New York state freeways right now and it's been up there for 10 years so we have 10 years of success to bring to the DOT [Department of Transportation]."

[lordsutch]

Didn't they try this idea a long time ago and find out that people would deliberately go the wrong way to trip the lights?

[cpzilliacus]

WLNE, ABC6: State Police, RIDOT finding ways to curb wrong-way driving

In the last 5 months, four families have held funeral services for loved ones killed by wrong-way drivers and all of them involved alcohol.

Now the Rhode Island State Police and RIDOT are working together to put an end to the problem by installing even more signage at 24 intersections throughout the state, that have been labeled the most confusing, and potentially dangerous for wrong way drivers.

"Since December we've had approximately 6 wrong way crashes in Rhode Island, 4 of them turned into fatal. The common denominator with these is alcohol,"  says State Police Colonel Steven O'Donnell.

To avoid future accidents, the state will install more signs at eye level with drivers some with flashing LED lights and even some with sensors that can detect a car coming in the wrong direction and send a message to an electronic billboard further down on the highway.Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, there's this on the same topic.

[BamaZeus]

It sounds like a very clever idea, considering the amount of elderly and visiting drivers who can easily become confused. 

It looks like it won't damage cars that hit the pylons, but certainly get their attention.  I do wonder about once they're deployed, how long it takes to retract them for correct-side traffic to pass that spot, once the driver turns around.

[KEK Inc.]

They should deploy tire spikes instead. 

[vdeane]

Tire spikes would cause issues for vehicles that have to back up for whatever reason.

[jeffandnicole]

And tire spikes would disable a vehicle.  If the ramp was narrow, it puts the entire ramp out of commission until the car can be towed away.  If all 4 tires are blown, that's a $500 or more tab to replace the tires, plus the cost to get the car to the facility to replace the tires. 

At higher speeds, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.