Keeping Connecticut drivers on the right, right side of the road continues to be a challenge.
This year, 22 people have already died in wrong-way driving accidents. Now states are trying to do something about it and are adding systems that include special reverse direction signs.
Department of Transportation spokesperson Josh Morgan explains how it works and who will pay for it.
Mike Heidek: So for those who haven’t read about it yet, what’s involved in these wrong way systems? And do we have data to prove that this system actually works? ?
Josh Morgan: Yes, these reverse LED flashing signs are activated by drivers heading in the wrong direction. There are actually cameras attached to poles that push an invisible grid onto the sidewalk. So it doesn’t work when the car is heading in the right direction. But if a car or vehicle is heading in the wrong direction, that’s what activates these lights. One slightly closer to the ramp and one further up the ramp. So an effort to keep someone from taking a wrong turn down the highway.
Mike Heidek: Correct me if I’m wrong. I read recently that he had one of these on a trial basis. I think it was probably in the Danbury area. What data has been collected from it and what data have you collected and are you proving that this works?
Josh Morgan: Yes, the Danbury location went online in January 2020 at the I-84 and SH6 interchange in Danbury. And what this technology does is send an email every time the camera is activated. It is to confirm whether it is an emergency vehicle or a maintenance vehicle. When we looked at that data, we found that it had operated dozens of times and had no crashes in that general area. There is none. But in that general area there were no reverse collisions. I witnessed a car turn the wrong way on the highway, the light would come on, stop and self-correct. Therefore, we are directly describing the success of this technology.
Mike Heidek: Boy, you can’t beat it. OK, so I’m guessing under many circumstances, maybe at night or early in the morning, it’s possible that a sleepy or even drunk driver could end up on the wrong road entry trip. How likely are these drivers to end up in a dangerous situation on the road if they reroute? police are warning that one of the signs has been activated and should be investigated?
Josh Morgan: Take advantage of data showing that about 85% of these runway drivers have a disability. Of course, the same is true when driving on general roads without using highways. It is a risk for everyone if they are still impaired to drive. What we do know, however, is that wrong-way accidents on highways occur at high speeds and are often fatal to the driver of the wrong-way vehicle, and to the person involved. Fifteen more locations will be online as part of the locations, while a 16th location near Brainerd Airport in Hartford will include technology that alerts State Police when activated. This is an additional pilot taking place here in Connecticut to ensure driver safety.
Mike Heidek: As we keep adding locations, where are some of the places we can expect? Are there other locations statewide?
Josh Morgan: Well, you know, the Department of Transportation surveyed over 700 ramp locations in the state. We identified 236 as high risk. This means that the entrance and exit ramps are next to each other on the same side of the road, ensuring a high penetration of restaurants, bars and hotels to keep people on track. At night. The data shows that reverse crashes occur mostly after 11:00 PM and before 5:00 AM. Therefore, these locations have been selected. Locations scheduled to be online this year are Route 2, Exit 95 in Colchester and Exit 34 in Milford, Exit 291 and Exit 4 in South Windsor. And that’s his 2023 work to be done in-house with Connecticut Department of Transportation employees. This is also happening statewide. I-91 in North Haven, 384 in Manchester and 91 in New Haven. Again, there are 236 lamps identified as high risk. So hit as many of these as you can as soon as possible.
Mike Heidek: So how much does this stuff cost and who pays?
Josh Morgan: Not all lamps are the same. Because the technology involves electrical wiring, he has been approved for funding to pilot 16 locations next year, but this year’s state budget includes an additional $20 million. I was. The governor and legislature knew this was a crisis for Connecticut. So they allocated an additional $20 million to the DOT to accelerate the program. And that’s what we’re going to do, ramps all over Connecticut.
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