A new pilot program in Kentucky involving a Wrong-Way Driving and Integrated Safety Technology System will deter and detect wrong-way drivers on key highways throughout two counties.
There have been 216 crashes involving wrong-way drivers across the state since 2015, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Those crashes killed 69 people and left 80 with serious injuries.
So far this year, there have been 13 wrong-way driver incidents statewide, according to KYTC. Those have killed six people and seriously injured three others.
“Wrong-way driving is certainly a concern, and we do everything we can in the cabinet to enhance and improve safety,” said Natasha Lacy, PIO for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 7, in a statement to WKYT.com.
In 2021, Kentucky was one of 10 grant recipients from the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program. Ten states were awarded grants totaling $45.2 million for projects using advanced intelligent transportation systems technologies to improve mobility and safety.
Kentucky received $5.14 million in federal funds to improve interstate highway safety through innovative solutions to prevent wrong-way crashes. The KYTC awarded the project contract, which is estimated to cost up to $9.5 million when complete.
Fayette and Jefferson counties were selected to participate in a three-month pilot program for the project “because those are the areas where there has been the highest level of wrong-way driving,” said Lacy.
The first five locations will include testing multiple Wrong Way Driving and Mainline Monitoring vendors to check their product’s accuracy and reliability with existing systems.
The detection system identifies wrong-way incidents and other safety concerns in real-time. The KYTC says this system will utilize different vendors: cameras integrated with video analytics software that can detect when a car is driving in the wrong direction, and movement detection technology such as radar or LiDAR.
The deterrent system activates warnings to discourage the wrong-way driver. Then, the alert system notifies other drivers of the wrong-way driver, while also notifying first responders of the wrong-way driver’s location. The KYTC says they are currently still working on how other drivers will be alerted.
The mainline monitoring system identifies other safety concerns, such as pedestrians, debris, and disabled vehicles. Similar to the detection of a wrong-way driver, this system will vary in method.
Source: WKYT.com, WAVE3.com
