Wrong Way Drivers - Epidemic

[LarsMac]

Clod's right.
If they are all entering the highway at the same intersection, then there must be a problem with markings for the ramps there, so they are driving onto and exit ramp, and down to the wrong lanes.

There are a couple of intersections near me where you make a left turn to enter the highway going westbound, and the westbound exit is right there next to the on ramp. If not paying attention, you can turn too soon and find yourself facing the exit ramp traffic.

An elderly fellow did that the other day, and was half a mile onto the highway before realizing his error. He pulled over and called for help. All turned out well.
Had he just kept going, or tried to turn around, he may have caused an accident.

[Patsy Warnick]

Clod
The wrong way drivers seem to be on any given freeway.
Our stats show 1 @ week & usually deadly.
Dept. of transportation posted more signs - which is doing nothing.
I have never heard of this and/or this amount of wrong way.

If this was a serial killer - the swat team would be out.

Some thing is seriously wrong - engineer wise..?
Patsy

[Clodhopper]

Well, like you I'm puzzled and a little intrigued and definitely rather horrified. As you say, there's a killer on the loose.

I've never been to the USA... Do you have set layouts for intersections? I mean, do all "joining the freeway from the right" intersections have the same layout? Does it vary from state to state or is it down to the individual contractor?

Marijuana doesn't seem to make particularly bad drivers - I've been driven by a few and not felt there was an issue. On the other hand these were experienced users and a new user might be a different matter. Actually WOULD be a different matter, thinking about it. Is it possible the victims were all new users?

I would guess your autopsies would note the presence of something like marijuana? That ought to be checkable. Or any other drug, for that matter, just in case you are having a surge in some other drug use.

Are there any figures from previous years? Just to be sure this isn't an old phenomenon that's only just been noticed (stranger things have happened...)

If you were happy to say what state we are talking about, I could have a wander on the internet and see if there are any figures or relevant material.

[Patsy Warnick]

Clod
Not sure when the stats for wrong way started here in Arizona.
This issue scares me.

Sorry I don't have much info on this & your welcome to google - I very curious if other states keep stats on this issue?
I've been busy with my Hubby in the Hospital.

Thanks for the interest - our transportation Co. don't seem to be anxious for a remedy. There's enough people affected that these family's should be pounding down the Capital's Door.

Patsy

[Clodhopper]

Ok, it seems that you had 63 fatal crashes due to driving in the opposing lane in 2016 and 2015 (p31 of the 2016 report: Table of crashes by type of driver violation; p17 of the 2015 report ditto)

https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-s...s.pdf?sfvrsn=4

https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-s...s.pdf?sfvrsn=8

Assuming we are talking about the same sort of crash, you seems to be doing a bit worse this year so far for this sort of crash, but not exceptionally so.

That still begs the question of how it's happening at all. Wrong way plates might well be the solution.

[LarsMac]

Well, the state is investigating. Apparently they have determined to be an epidemic-like event.
Not sure how they go about fixing it.
I know that Arizona has a lot of elderly, and a lot of problems with drugs. And that there have been a number of incidents in other states where alcohol/drugs were involved, and suicide appears to be a factor.
Could there be a connection there?
In Florida there are similar problems, it seems.

The NTSB did a report in 2010 and determined that Alcohol was a significant contributing factor. (nearly 70% of WW drivers exhibited higher than the legal limit BAC.)

The problem had been under investigation since at least 2008 nationwide.

Found some published information
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersec...er_topics/wwd/

[Patsy Warnick]

Yet another wrong way driver.
This vehicle entered @ 2 P.M. - caused 6 other wrecks before the vehicle ran into a guard rail. Traffic was backed up for hours - lines of traffic @ 8 miles long sitting in 115 degree weather. horrible

Lars
I was grasping at straws for ideas?? There has always been drunk drivers (impaired) but on the freeway the wrong way?

I don't know - There is no urgency to correct/solve this problem. It's every week..
Patsy

[Patsy Warnick]

We had 5 wrong way drivers last week.

Today we had a large Semi Truck going the wrong way.

8/1/1019 we've had a total of 72 wrong way drivers = 9 wrong way drivers a Month.

How is this happening?

Patsy

[Patsy Warnick]

Yesterday morning bright & early another Wrong Way Driver.

Single lady driving the wrong way - hit a semi truck - she was ejected from her car - the freeway was closed for hours during the morning commute.

Our stats for wrong way drivers are increasing when the stats should be going down from last year? Solution - don't drive in the HOV Lane since majority wrong way drivers stay to the right which is the HOV lane...

Why is this happening? Do you/your state have this epidemic of wrong way drivers?

Patsy

[Patsy Warnick]

Noon News - wrong way driver last night -other drivers phoned in & authorities stopped the vehicle.

any suggestions for a solution?

Patsy