Countermeasures for Wrong-Way Movement on Freeways: Overview of Project Activities and Findings

Drivers who make wrong-way entries onto freeways pose a serious risk to the safety of other motorists and themselves. Wrong-way driving often leads to head-on collisions . Wrong-way crashes are relatively infrequent but are more likely to produce serious injuries and fatalities compared to other types of crashes. Driving the wrong way on freeways has been a nagging traffic safety problem since the interstate highway system was started in the 1950s. Despite over forty years of highway design, marking, and signing improvements at freeway interchanges, the problem still persists. Several crashes in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Fort Worth District have brought attention to the hazard of wrong-way drivers. A search of newspaper articles revealed that the problem of wrong-way driving is not unique to Fort Worth and occurs throughout Texas . Members of the Fort Worth Traffic Management Team (TMT ) identified locations with a history of wrong-way entries and assessed potential countermeasures. During this review process it was determined that research was needed to understand and develop effective countermeasures for wrongway movements onto freeways and other restricted roads. This research provides TxDOT staff with preventative measures for reducing the frequency and severity of wrong-way entries onto freeway facilities throughout Texas. Researchers performed the following tasks during the project: * Established state-of-the-practice on safety, design, and operational issues for wrong-way movement on freeways ; * surveyed state DOTs to get information on typical wrong-way signing and marking and any innovative practices ; * quantified the frequency, severity, and other important characteristics of wrong-way crashes in Texas based on a review of crash reports and coordination with 911 public safety answering points ; * identified available countermeasures to reduce wrong-way movements and crashes ; * evaluated the feasibility and applicability of the available countermeasures to address Texas problems ; * documented typical situations that were more likely to produce wrong-way entry issues ; * developed guidelines/recommended practices for application of wrong-way countermeasures and treatments ; and * developed a checklist for field crews to use for reviewing wrong-way entry issues or suspected problem locations.