CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — An update to a News 8 Investigation. Wrong-way drivers in Connecticut are a big problem. But, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) says high tech warning systems are having a significant impact and saving lives.
News 8 first reported on this issue extensively a year ago in February 2024. Now, we’ve learned the DOT is working to get 200 more wrong-way warning systems up as fast as possible.
Our initial reporting showed how these warning systems work. There are bright flashing lights that are hard to miss to warn drivers they’re going the wrong way on an off ramp. The technology also sends real time alerts to the DOT and state police who will scramble a trooper as quickly as possible to the location.
The warning systems were activated more than 300 times over the last 12 or 13 months, according to the DOT.
“About 80 to 82% of the drivers are self correcting, meaning they see the flashing lights they stop they back up, they do a turn and they exit the highway,” Josh Morgan, DOT spokesperson, said.
The DOT, along with Connecticut State Police, analyzed more high-risk areas in the state where systems are needed: hoping that 200 new systems will help save more drivers.
DOT worker Britton Wilson’s heart and hands help install these warning systems, and it’s personal because he’s trying to save as many lives as he can. His brother died in a wrong way crash.
“I always have a quick prayer and I talk to my brother and I talk to God and I make sure they understand what we are about to do,” Wilson said.
It’s not just good news on wrong-way progress. We have also reported on work zone speeders and the cameras set up to target dangerous drivers.
Someone speeding caught on tape and issued a citation as part of the pilot program, which is now permanant.
Now, the DOT says the public awareness campaign they launched that they said was not a “gotcha” campaign is working and people are slowing down.
“What we saw at some locations was that speeds with the cameras dropped between 16 and 18%, a huge decrease in speed when the enforcement mechanism was there,” Morgan said.
15 locations will have speed enforcement measures statewide this spring and summer.
The DOT hopes to have the additional 200 wrong-way systems up in the next 20 months or so.
Watch the full story above.
CREDIT: News8 WTNH Jeff Derderian
