Abstract
Wrong-Way Driving (WWD) crashes have higher fatality rate than other crashes. In contrast to much of the existing literature, which has focused on collision data available after a WWD crash, this paper evaluates WWD events that did not result in a collision. The aim is to see if there are factors beyond those identified on collision-based studies leading to such events. The focus is on WWD events for highway exit ramps and evaluating the efficacy of in-situ countermeasures to mitigate such events. Data were collected by continuous monitoring of 12 exit ramps with potential WWD problems. Eight of the ramps received WWD countermeasures for mitigation purposes, and data were collected for these before and after mitigation. The results indicate that a major factor in a WWD event is driver confusion related to exit ramp geometry and signage, and that in-situ mitigation can be an effective countermeasure. This also suggests that increasing conspicuity of wrong-way entrance can potentially reduce the number of WWD crashes and fatalities.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for its support, including the Division of Maintenance, the Division of Traffic Operations, the Division of Research, Innovation and System Information, and personnel from Districts 3 and 11. The authors thank Dr. Amir A. Nasrollahzadeh for his assistance with the statistical analysis. This work was supported through the AHMCT Research Center under Caltrans Contracts IA65A0560 and IA65A0749, Task 2970.
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Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 147 • Issue 12 • December 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 28, 2021
Accepted: Jul 30, 2021
Published online: Sep 23, 2021
Published in print: Dec 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Feb 23, 2022
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