North Texas city using new wrong-way driver detection system

IRVING, Texas — The city of Irving is serving as the primary city to pilot FLIR, a wrong-way driver detection system.  

The cameras alert authorities by e-mail after they detect a automobile transferring towards oncoming site visitors. 

Although it is new to Irving, the North Texas Tollway Authority already makes use of expertise and sensible signage to cease wrong-way drivers.

Irving is using the new expertise due to a grant within the quantity of $164,430, which paid for the set up of detection techniques alongside State Highway 183 and 161 corridors.

For instance, there are thermal sensors beneath the pavement at toll cubicles. When a driver goes the improper means, flashing lights are activated, then alerts are despatched to the 24/7 security operations middle.

Then state law enforcement officials are dispatched to the world. Other drivers are additionally alerted by a warning on digital freeway message boards.  

NTTA has additionally lowered the “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” indicators to the driver’s eye stage so the indicators are extra seen.

In September 2020, the NTTA initiated a thermal digital camera pilot program to detect wrong-way drivers within the Plano space. The system alerts drivers headed into oncoming site visitors with pink lights that flash whereas mounted on indicators with giant letters studying “Wrong Way.” 

Michael Rey of the NTTA mentioned as a rule, wrong-way drivers are impaired in some capability, so detecting them going the improper means as quickly as potential is essential.  

The expertise has paid off for the city of Irving. The city mentioned that since putting in the driver-detection expertise, law enforcement officials consider it has prevented wrong-way driver crashes at the least 4 totally different instances.