LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A project to prevent wrong-way driving accidents in Kentucky has been underway for several years and is getting closer to saving lives.
The wrong lane detection and monitoring system and integrated safety technology will deter and detect wrong-way drivers on motorways.
According to the Kentucky Department of Transportation, there have been 216 accidents in Kentucky involving wrong-way drivers since 2015. In these accidents, 69 people were killed and 80 were seriously injured.
According to KYTC, there have been 13 accidents involving wrong-way drivers nationwide this year. Six people were killed and three others were seriously injured.
Local riders like Shay Poissonier, who works at Harley Davidson just off the Arthur Street exit, are aware of the danger.
“We see many, many accidents back here because people think they can get off the highway here, which they can’t, and then try to drive in the opposite direction,” Poissonier said.
One of these accidents occurred in 2021 when a 17-year-old charged with drunk driving drove the wrong way onto the highway on Arthur Street and collided head-on with a car. A woman died and two other occupants of the car were injured.
To prevent wrong-way driving accidents like this one, the Department of Transportation is introducing the new technology at three locations in Jefferson County:
- I-264 from I-64 to I-65.
- I-64 from the Ohio River to Pee Wee Reese Road.
- I-65 from the Ohio River to Kentucky Highway 1065 (Outer Loop).
The detection system identifies wrong-way drivers and other safety hazards in real time, such as a person walking on the highway or broken-down cars. The system then activates alerts to prevent the driver from going the wrong way. The warning system then alerts other drivers and emergency responders that a driver is going the wrong way. How this part will work is still being worked out, according to KYTC.
“We’ll be looking at this for the next month or so to see what works best,” said Natasha Lacy, spokeswoman for KYTC District 7. “Part of the detection is done through LiDAR, part through computer technology,”
The overarching goal is to save lives.
“We are always focused on accident prevention and safety, and this will be another tool we can use to help the motoring public,” Lacy said.
It is a safety feature that Poissonier welcomes.
“If there was something to warn me and tell me that this is the wrong way to go, then I think I could be a safer driver and many of us could benefit from that and be a lot safer.”
The pilot program will last three months. After that, the KYTC will decide how to proceed. The technology is set to be introduced at three locations in Fayette County on Sunday. It is still unclear when the technology will be installed in Jefferson County.
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