Safety experts seek solutions to wrong-way drivers causing crashes

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people seeking to better understand the reasons for an uptick in wrong-way driving and to mitigate the risks.

First, Gary Bubar, a traffic safety specialist for AAA Michigan, talks about the trend and his organization’s awareness and education efforts. He explains that elderly drivers and those who are intoxicated are much more likely to be wrong-way drivers.

Speaking to the Detroit News (subscription) recently about wrong-way crash statistics, Bubar said, “These numbers are only insignificant if you're not the one involved, or if you don't know anyone involved. Across the country, we have about 350 to 400 wrong-way fatality crashes a year. If you're one of those or related to one of those, that number is huge."

Bubar also talks about the disturbing trend, highlighted in a Michigan State Police news release this week, of fewer people using seat belts.

Later, Erick Kind, Grand Region engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), talks about some measures being implemented to help address wrong-way crashes on the US-131 freeway in Grand Rapids. 

Kind talks about some technology being employed at freeway ramps where drivers have been found to enter in the wrong direction. These steps are in addition to some things MDOT and other departments have implemented in recent years: 

• Lowered “Do Not Enter” signs to improve headlight angles.
• Added reflective strips to “Do Not Enter” and "Wrong Way” signposts.
• Added backside red reflective strips along the length of the off ramps.
• Added stop bars and turn arrows at ramp approaches, in addition to wrong-way arrows placed further back.
• Added turning guideline markings at ramps where the on and off ramps are adjacent to each other.
• Painted curbed islands at ramp terminals.