Combating wrong way drivers on divided carriageways

The issue of motorists entering the Auckland Motorway network via off ramps is a significant safety issue. This phenomenen of 'Wrong Way' or ‘Ghost’ drivers appears to be a growing issue around the rest of the country as the length of motorway and expressway grows and the driving population ages. The bulk of motorists who make the mistake of turning down an off ramp against the traffic flow are people who would typically be deemed as competent drivers. These motorists appear to quickly recognise their error and make a hasty retreat. Those drivers who make it past the off ramp and onto the mainline tend to be impaired drivers, either by way of drugs, alcohol or some age related impairment. It is these motorists who end up contributing to the death and serious injury road statistics. Stopping these Wrong Way drivers once they are on a divided carriageway is a significant challenge. However there are some relatively simple tools that can be deployed to reduce the risk of a driver making a wrong turn in the first place. The Auckland Motorway Alliance has successfully trialled some "Wrong Way' detection technology as proof of concept and is now working towards the implementation of a raft of prevention measures. Some of the findings the AMA has learnt are presented in this paper. There are also some helpful hints for all drivers to protect themselves, their families and friends against the risk of them featuring in the statistics as either a perpetrator or an innocent victim of Wrong Way driving.

• Record URL:
  http://conf.hardingconsultants.co.nz/ipenztg2015/presenters/
• Authors:
  • Baisyet, R
  • Stevens, A
• Conference:
  • Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Transportation Conference, 2015, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Publication Date: 2015-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: World class transport: smarter, stronger, safer: IPENZ Transportation Group Conference, Christchurch, 22-24 March 2015

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access roads; Behavior; Driver information systems; Drivers; Freeways; Traffic safety; Wrong way driving
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Auckland, New Zealand; New Zealand
• ATRI Terms: Access road; Crash countermeasure; Driver behaviour; Driver information; Freeway; Wrong way driving
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01566631
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 18 2015 11:02AM