Wrong Way Driving
Top Contributing Factors
- Driver Impairment
- Driver Confusion
- Medical Events
Sources:
Iowa State University Institute for Transportation
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Facts
- On average, 43 people are killed in wrong way collisions each year on California’s highways.
- Most wrong way crashes happen with vehicles in the left-hand lane traveling in the correct direction.
- In 2019, 61.4% of wrong-way driver crashes involved drivers who were impaired at the time of the crash.
- Wrong-way crashes are rare – they account for less than 1% of all deadly crashes.
What To Do
- Move as quickly and as safely out of the way as possible.
- Do not attempt to pursue the wrong-way driver. As soon as it is safe to do so, call 911 and report the driver.
- While driving, maintain a high visual horizon. Looking down the road increases your ability to see roadway hazards far ahead and safely get out of the way.
- Keep your headlights on at night. If a wrong-way driver sees headlights, they might realize they are going the wrong way.
Resources
- Caltrans News Flash – Wrong Way Driver Pavement Markings in San Diego
- Caltrans Wrong Way Pilot Projects
- Wrong Way Pilot Projects Fact Sheet
- Wrong Way Driver Prevention FAQ
- Report: Wrong Way Pilot Projects for Prevention of Wrong Way Collisions on Freeways
- Report: Wrong Way Driving – Vision-Based Sensor System for Site Monitoring
- Article – Caltrans Pilot Program Takes on Wrong Way Collisions
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Research Brief: Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes on Divided Highways