Gov. Beshear says new program to prevent wrong-way driving will save lives
Originally published by WEKU.
I-75 and I-64 in Lexington may be safer places to drive this summer, thanks to a pilot program using new technology to monitor people traveling on the wrong side of the road. According to the state Transportation Cabinet, between 2015 and 2023, there were 191 accidents involving wrong-way driving on interstates and parkways – resulting in 55 fatalities and 76 serious injuries. Governor Andy Beshear:
“It will detect wrong-way incidents in real time. It will deter runway drivers by activating warnings. It’ll alert travelers driving in the correct direction of detected wrong way driver and also alert first responders of the location of the detected wrong way driver.”
The governor said the devices will also monitor safety threats like debris, disabled vehicles and pedestrians. The new tech will be employed on much of New Circle Road and interstates in Louisville in the summer of ’25.
“We lost some Kentuckians to these types of incidents. And this is us trying to use technology and to be innovative to better protect our families.”
A federal grant will provide $5.1 million of the $9.5 million dollar program’s cost.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
