Evaluation of Wrong-Way Driving Countermeasures at Kansas Urban and Rural Interstate Ramps

Since the development of the United States Interstate highway system in the 1950s, crashes related to drivers traveling in the direction opposite of the legal flow of traffic, or wrong-way, have posed a significant concern for transportation officials and policy makers. Wrong-way driving incidents are prevalent, and many times the driver will correct his or her actions shortly after entering the roadway. However, wrong-way driving related crashes do occur but are not a substantial percentage of the total number of crashes in Kansas. However, many times wrong-way driving crashes result in at least one serious injury or fatality and subsequently becomes a high-profile crashes. Limited research currently exist, however a resurgence of interest including a recent NCHRP report demonstrates the continued need to investigate methods to prevent wrong-way crashes. Through an initial study performed by K-State on wrong-way driving, the research team has identified gaps in knowledge which this project is expected to fulfill. This research project has multiple objective all of which relate to ways Kansas can reduce wrong-way driving incidents and crashes. The first objective is to identify interstate-on ramps that have experienced a significant number of wrong-way driving crashes and what geometric characteristics are present. Secondly, the research team wants to seek expert opinions, potential strategies, and feedback for wrong-way driving through a state-wide traffic safety conference. Finally, the research team will evaluate two to three wrong-way driving countermeasures through a before-after analysis in the field.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Final report is pending.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $67,981
• Contract Numbers:

  K-TRAN: KSU-19-2

  RE-0748-01

  C2133

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Eisenhower State Office Building
  700 SW Harrison Street
  Topeka, KS  United States  66603-3754
• Performing Organizations:

  Kansas State University Transportation Center

  Kansas State University
  Department of Civil Engineering
  Manhattan, KS  United States  66506
• Principal Investigators:

  Fitzsimmons, Eric

  Dissanayake, Sunanda

• Start Date: 20180815
• Expected Completion Date: 20240330
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Interstate highways; On ramps; Traffic safety; Wrong way driving
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01704495
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Kansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: K-TRAN: KSU-19-2, RE-0748-01, C2133
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 7 2019 3:55PM