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Sep 23, 2009 2:00 pm US/Central
NTTA Task Force Presents Wrong-Way Crash Report
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
During the summer, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) formed a task force to study
the increasing number of wrong-way crashes on area tollways. Today that task force presented a list of safety recommendations to the NTTA board.
The task force consisted of members from the Texas Department of Public Safety, emergency management officials, first responders, engineers, and experts in design construction.
The task force examined the design, construction, and signage on the Tollway and looked for solutions to problems, then presented two ideas.
In response to the recommendations the NTTA will now launch a pilot program to address the problem of wrong-way drivers.
The program will test two measures. One is to add flashing lights on existing signage to alert drivers they are headed in the wrong direction.
The NTTA will also add a loop detection system. Sensors will be placed on exit ramps and alert dispatch if there is a wrong-way driver. Dispatch can then send law enforcement officers to the area.
"Then there would be communication sent to the command center. The command center would be able to get police to the scene more quickly to avoid the accident from happening," explained NTTA spokesperson Sherita Coffelt.
The NTTA has not determined which exits will be part of the pilot program, which will last three to six months.
"Our staff believes we operate in a safe manner and we want to assure our customers that is indeed safe. We want to work vigorously to find areas where we can improve safety and avoid these tragic accidents," said NTTA Chair P
aul Wageman.
So far this year there have been nearly a dozen wrong-way crashes on North Texas tollways, with four of them having deadly consequences, far more than any other major highway in the region.
The NTTA ruled out the use of in-group spike strips, saying they would be ineffective in stopping drivers going at high speeds and that they could cause additional accidents. "A lot of the experts are advising us spikes, while they may stop someone, they may create other hazards because when you have people exiting the Tollway you could cause even more damage or more injuries," NTTA Executive Director Allen Clemson said in June.
In July, a CBS 11 News report revealed
only one exit on the entire Dallas North Tollway was equipped with reflectors to warn wrong-way drivers who try to enter an exit ramp. One day later the NTTA began installing road reflectors at eight exit ramp locations.
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