The last thing any driver wants to see is a vehicle going in the wrong direction, headed straight towards them. Wrong-way drivers are among the leading causes of fatal crashes.

Many of these drivers are seriously impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Some are simply driving in unfamiliar areas and get onto the wrong road – sometimes on a one way street or at a highway exit ramp.

The problem is so serious that about half of New England states, including Rhode Island, have installed “wrong-way driver detection systems” in areas that have been historically problematic. According to one traffic safety engineer in Rhode Island, where the first detection systems were implemented ten years ago, the 28 areas that have such systems have experienced no fatal wrong-way collisions and had only one that injured a motorist. In the five years prior to their installation, there were about eight fatalities and 24 injuries.

How Do The Systems Work?

The Rhode Island systems include signs notifying drivers when they’re headed the wrong way. If a vehicle continues going the wrong way, the signs will flash red. If the vehicle doesn’t change course, an alert goes to the police and a photo is automatically snapped of the driver.

New Hampshire leaders have been considering wrong-way detection systems to reduce or eliminate the wrong-way driving issue that’s also plaguing their state. A motorist driving the wrong way even took the life of a New Hampshire police sergeant. Some systems can send messages directly to a driver and warn them they’re headed the wrong way.

Wrong-Way Drivers Will Continue To Be A Serious Risk

While these systems can certainly reduce the number of wrong-way crashes, they can’t eliminate them. A wrong-way driver can appear anywhere, and it’s often too late to do anything but swerve into another lane, which also has its risks.

If someone suffers serious injuries or loses a loved one to a wrong-way driver, it’s important to know that even though that driver can face serious criminal charges, victims and surviving loved ones can also hold them civilly liable for medical expenses and other financial and non-financial losses. It can be wise to get legal guidance as early as possible.