Addressing Wrong-Way Driving with Technology

Whether it's caused by distraction, confusion, or alcohol-impairment, wrong-way driving is a dangerous issue that must be addressed

Wrong-way drivers pose a serious threat to highway safety, often resulting in high-impact, fatal collisions, making early detection essential to minimizing risk.

Although such incidents are relatively rare, they are disproportionately deadly. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, wrong-way driving caused more than 2,000 fatalities on divided highways in the United States between 2015 and 2018—an average of 500 deaths per year and a 34% increase compared to the 2010–2014 period.

In Europe, a study by the European Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures found that wrong-way driving accounted for 4.6% of all fatal accidents on French toll roads from 2000 to 2016. Meanwhile, German highways report approximately 2,000 wrong-way driving incidents annually, resulting in around 200 accidents each year.

Where Things Go Wrong

Research shows that wrong-way driving is mainly the result of distracted driving, driving while tired, and unfortunately, reckless behavior. Most wrong-way incidents occur at night and often involve drivers entering exit ramps due to poor visibility, unclear signage, or unfamiliarity with the area.

These deadly accidents are also more likely to occur at night, when the combination of tired drivers, intoxicated drivers, and lack of visibility make mistakes more likely.

While improved signage, lighting, and road markings help, these passive measures can't always prevent a wrong-way entry. What's needed is a real-time, intelligent system that detects, confirms, and responds to incidents before they turn deadly.

"These incidents predominantly occur when a vehicle unintentionally enters an exit ramp, often during night-time or during inclement weather and is impacted by factors such as unclear signage or the driver's unfamiliarity with the city."

—Stefaan Pinck, VP Business Development for FLIR ITS

The Need for Comprehensive Incident Detection

Any effective solution to wrong-way driving must automate specific countermeasures that protect oncoming vehicles. This means the solution should not only detect incidents but also:

● Provide flashing wrong-way signals to warn the wrong-way drivers

● Alarm when a driver does not stop for local wrong-way signals

● Provide decision support software for operators

● Warn oncoming drivers via road sign messages

● Provide traffic signal pre-empts and ramp closure notifications

● Include inter-agency police alerts with arrival timing calculated from the wrong-way driver's speed

For initial detection, the traffic sensor system should leverage video analytics to determine a passing vehicle’s direction and speed.

The most efficient and robust technology for this application are 24/7 thermal cameras. Field tests conclude that thermal video analytics sensors are the most effective due to their accurate imaging in all weather and light conditions.

FLIR TrafiSense AI Thermal Traffic Sensors installed at an intersection. You can learn more about FLIR thermal traffic solutions in our article, Maximizing Road Safety and Efficiency: Choosing the Right Sensor Technology for Smart Traffic Solutions.

Why Thermal?

Thermal traffic cameras detect the infrared radiation—or "heat" of objects—and turn that signal into an image. This allows them to “see” through rain, fog, shadows, or darkness and "ignore" distractions such as sun glare, headlights, and snow glare.

Thermal cameras can be simple to install, using existing poles or other infrastructure, with no additional lighting needed. They are also easy to maintain, clean, or replace while traffic is flowing.

More advanced thermal traffic cameras with smart video analytics can detect practically any traffic irregularity, including stopped vehicles, pedestrians, lost cargo, and more specifically: wrong-way drivers.

When an AI-enabled thermal traffic camera detects a wrong-way driver, the system can immediately trigger an audible alarm and showcase both looping and live thermal video at traffic operator workstations. Visual aids such as this help confirm the existence of the wrong-way vehicle, so the traffic operator activate or dismiss system countermeasures with a single push of a button.

Multi-Detector Confirmation

The typical set-up for detecting wrong-way drivers at a highway exit ramp includes:

• A thermal imaging camera with onboard video analytics

• An intersection detection zone (I), responsible for sending an initial alarm to the traffic operator

• A mainline detector zone (M) to validate the incident if a vehicle crosses within a specific timeframe after crossing the intersection detection zone

• Adjacent mainline detectors that monitor vehicles as they travel

Together, these systems validate the detection and can activate and update appropriate countermeasures. Then, additional smart thermal traffic cameras along the route can measure the driver's speed and perfectly calculate the time needed for that vehicle to reach a specific point.

Automation also plays a crucial role in ensuring prompt reaction to a wrong-way driver. Once an event is confirmed—through visual confirmation or through the multi-detector system logic—automated countermeasures would include:

● Public warnings: Dynamic message signs can automatically display warnings of the oncoming hazard

● Ramp closures: Automatic commands to ramp entrance meters would stop additional traffic from entering the freeway

● Inter-agency alerts: Message police and other agencies to provide critical information such as location, speed, existing traffic, and estimated arrival times at predetermined interception points

Real-Time Decision Support

Wrong-way driver systems use real-time, georeferenced traffic maps as well as live video feeds and recorded video to keep traffic operators informed as situations unfold. Countermeasures can be constantly tracked and updated, with traffic operators releasing them when the wrong-way driver passes from one detection zone to the next. Once the danger has passed, operators can release remaining countermeasures.

Multi-Detector System in Action

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) added enhanced wrong-way driver detection along Interstate 17 in north Phoenix in 2017. The system includes 90 FLIR thermal cameras that monitor off-ramps and the mainline for a 15-mile stretch of the interstate.

ADOT took a three-phase approach to detecting wrong-way driving: alerting wrong-way drivers so they can self-correct, warning right-way drivers, and notifying law enforcement. The system also includes a computerized decision support system and specialized background-illuminated wrong-way signs that light up in order to grab the attention of wrong-way drivers. By January 2019, ADOT reported the I-17 system had successfully detected 45 wrong-way drivers without incident.

Protecting Roadways for All

Wrong-way driving is a deadly problem—but it’s one that can be addressed with smart, proactive systems that include thermal camera technology. Highway authorities that deploy thermal camera systems with AI analytics are already seeing results: faster detection, better coordination, and more accurate tracking of wrong-way drivers. By investing in comprehensive traffic safety solutions like FLIR’s thermal sensors, communities can make their roads safer for everyone.