The Wrong Way Driving Detection Program Phase 1 project began in 2012 in partnership between Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and the University of Central Florida, with extensive research conducted to determine the extent of wrong way driving in Florida and possible solutions.  Wrong way driving is responsible for three percent of all highway crashes in Florida and has a fatality rate 27 times higher than other automobile collisions.

DRMP was responsible for the layout of the award-winning Intelligent Transportation System design project, which featured first of its kind innovative system-wide wrong way driver detection capabilities. The project consisted of the deployment of a Wrong Way Detection System at 29 off-ramp locations on the CFX roadway network.  The project included product research, vendor coordination, field testing, development of specialized details for the installation, wiring, grounding and networking of the rapid flashing beacons and associated local hubs.  The system uses three phases: warning, detection and alert. The warning uses prominent lights to warn the drivers of their direction; the detection uses video detection to notify the Traffic Management Center; the alert sends notifications to the Traffic Management Center to dispatch the Florida Highway Patrol.

Since installation, the wrong way driving detection system has had an 83.6 percent documented turnaround success of wrong way drivers.  This results in safer travels for the motoring public along the CFX roadway network.

Awards

• 2017 Honor Award in Engineering Excellence from Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE)
• 2016 “Toll Excellence Award for Toll Operations, Engineering & Maintenance” from International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) for the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s Wrong Way Driving Detection and Prevention Pilot Program