Ogden, UTAH – According to the state officials, 8 more systems will be installed soon.
The Utah Department of Transportation installed 15 wrong-way driving detection systems around the state to help prevent wrong-way driving crashes, officials say
UDOT began installing these systems in February 2023, and is in the process of installing eight more.
There have been 18 wrong-way driving crashes in 2023, with six fatalities. This includes a fatal incident Wednesday night in Parley’s Canyon.
The new wrong-way driver detection and alert system consists of a detector unit, which includes a radar and high definition/infrared cameras, and a series of red “Wrong Way” warning signs equipped with solar-powered, high-intensity LED lights.
When a wrong-way driver is detected by the radar or the cameras, the LED signs activate to alert the driver. If the vehicle continues going the wrong way, the system sends automated alerts to the UDOT Traffic Operations Center (TOC) and the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) so the driver can be tracked and stopped as quickly as possible.
The detection system – one of the most advanced wrong-way driver detection and warning systems in the country – will continue to improve safety by preventing drivers from going the wrong way and by speeding up the process for alerting UHP and UDOT when a wrong-way driver is detected.