March 16, 2021 — Fatal wrong-way driving crashes on our nation's highways are a persistent and devastating threat that is only getting worse, including in Ohio.  

According to the latest data analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there were more than 2000 deaths from wrong-way driving crashes on divided highways between 2015 and 2018, an average of approximately 500 deaths a year. That is up 34% from the 375 deaths annually from 2010 to 2014.

Researchers found that the odds of being a wrong-way driver increased with alcohol-impairment, older age, and driving without a passenger.

"Wrong-way crashes on divided highways are often fatal as they are typically head-on collisions," said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "And unfortunately, as the data shows, fatalities from these crashes are on the rise."

Wrong-Way Crashes in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports 595 wrong-way crashes occurred on Ohio’s divided highways between 2011 and 2020, resulting in 117 fatalities and 207 serious injuries. That’s an average of nearly 60 wrong-way crashes per year and nearly 12 deaths per year in Ohio.  While these wrong-way crashes make up just 0.01% of all crashes in the state of Ohio, they are 40 times more likely to result in deaths. 

County data

Upon closer examination, Montgomery County rank in the top 10 in Ohio with high incidents of wrong-way crashes for 2019, according to ODOT.

Clark and Greene counties are in the top 20 Ohio counties.

In Ohio, ODOT is working to prevent these wrong-way crashes by:

• Placing wrong-way signs lower on the poles, because research has shown that impaired drivers tend to look down instead of up.
• Installing directional arrows on the ramp pavement to indicate the traveled direction.

Testing wrong-way driver detection systems. In 2019, ODOT installed the first wrong-way detection system along a 19-mile stretch of I-71 in Hamilton County. They also have detectors on two ramps: I-670 westbound to Neil Ave. in Columbus and westbound SR-2 to West 28^th St. in Cleveland. These devices have stopped wrong-way drivers.

AAA works with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other traffic safety organizations to educate drivers on the deadly impact of wrong-way driving.  In light of these latest research findings, AAA and the NTSB are urging state transportation agencies to adopt driver-based countermeasures that address these factors, such as alcohol ignition interlocks, strengthened deterrence strategies like sobriety checkpoints, driver refresher courses for older adults and the installation of more-visible signs and signals. 

Alcohol-impairment, older age, and driving without a passenger increase risks of wrong-way crashes

Researchers examined eight factors related to these types of crashes, and three stood out – alcohol-impairment, older age, and driving without a passenger. Six in ten wrong-way crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Those with blood alcohol concentrations over the legal limit of 0.08 g/dl* were significantly more likely to be wrong-way drivers than non-alcohol-impaired drivers involved in the same crashes.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (g/dl)                               No. of Wrong-Way Drivers (%)

* grams per deciLiter

Impairment is on the NTSB’s MOST WANTED LIST of Transportation Safety Improvements which is the agency’s premier advocacy tool. The list identifies the top safety improvements that can prevent crashes, minimize injuries, and save lives. Impairment in transportation is not limited to just alcohol; it also includes impairment by other drugs—legal or illicit.

“Alcohol impairment is, by far, the single most significant factor in the majority of wrong-way driving crashes, which unfortunately has not changed since the NTSB issued its Wrong-Way Driving special investigation report in 2012,” said NTSB Director of the Office of Highway Safety, Dr. Rob Molloy.“The important work done by AAA shows that we need to redouble our efforts to address this safety hazard. We know that interventions like ignition interlock devices for all offenders and high-visibility enforcement operations will reduce these types of devastating crashes.”

An alcohol ignition interlock device prevents a vehicle from starting until the driver provides a breath sample that registers below a pre-set low limit, usually around a BAC of .02.  It is the best countermeasure we have to separate drinking from driving.

The data also shows that drivers over age 70 are more at risk of wrong-way driving than their younger counterparts. Previous Foundation research from the AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) project found that older drivers aged 75-79 spent less time on the road and drove fewer miles per trip than younger age groups.  And yet, this same age group is over-represented in wrong-way crashes.

A passenger's presence may offer some protection against being a wrong-way driver, as nearly 87% of wrong-way drivers were alone. Passengers may alert drivers that they are entering a one-way road, preventing them from entering the highway in the wrong direction, or alerting them to their error, helping the driver take corrective action before a crash occurs.

How to make a U-Turn on the Rising Wrong-Way Crashes Trend

In addition to alcohol ignition interlock devices and high-visibility enforcement, AAA and the NTSB want state policymakers to consider widely used effective infrastructure countermeasures, such as installing more-visible traffic signs and signals that follow national standards and are placed at proper locations.  

Because older drivers are over-represented in wrong-way collisions, AAA and the NTSB also urge states to change their laws to help identify medically at-risk drivers, both physically and cognitively, to keep everyone safely driving as long as possible.

AAA and the NTSB remind drivers to use common sense before getting behind the wheel.

• If you are driving, don't drink. If you are drinking, don’t drive.  If you consume marijuana or alcohol or use potentially impairing prescription medications, then don't drive.  And if you're going to drive, then don't consume these substances.
• Stay alert. Stop driving if you become sleepy because you could fall asleep at any time. Fatigue impacts reaction time and judgment, causing people who are very tired to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk.

Methodology: AAA Foundation researchers examined the number of fatal wrong-way crashes and the number of people killed using data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Characteristics of wrong-way drivers were compared with "right-way" drivers in the same crash to identify factors associated with increased odds of being a wrong-way driver in these types of crashes.  

About the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation's mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research develops educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users.

About the NTSB: The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged with determining the probable cause of transportation accidents, promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.

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