PROJECT SUMMARY
Texas Department of Transportation
0-6867: Connected Vehicle Wrong-Way Driving Detection and
Mitigation Demonstration
Background
Connected vehicles (CVs) and their integration
with transportation infrastructure provide new
approaches to wrong-way driving (WWD)
detection, warning, verification, and intervention
that will help practitioners further reduce the
occurrence and severity of WWD crashes. This
project developed an initial concept for a CV
WWD detection and management system. This
system would detect WWD vehicles, notify Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and law
enforcement personnel, and alert affected
travelers.
For this project, the system boundaries were
identified as high-speed, controlled-access,
freeway-type facilities. These included the main
lanes of TxDOT freeways and major toll facilities,
as well as their entrance and exit ramps. System
boundaries do not include frontage roads, crossstreet approaches of frontage road intersections
or the intersections themselves, or urban
roadways operated by municipalities. The
system was also not designed for multi-lane,
divided highways without access control.
What the Researchers Did
To accomplish the project goal, the research
team reviewed the state of the practice of
intelligent transportation systems and CV
technologies being applied as WWD
countermeasures and the WWD crash trends in
Texas from 2010 to 2014. The research team
also identified the user needs associated with the
implementation of a CV WWD detection and
management system and preliminary ways to
connect with law enforcement. Based on these
tasks, the research team developed a concept of
operations, functional requirements, and highlevel system design for a CV WWD detection and
management system.
The research team conducted one-on-one
surveys to assess motorist understanding of
wrong-way driver warning messages that were
designed to be displayed on dynamic message
signs (DMSs). The research team also
investigated the use of roadside alert (RSA)
messages to provide warning to CVs about
approaching wrong-way drivers. Researchers
developed recommendations regarding the next
steps toward the implementation of a CV WWD
detection and management system.
Research Performed by:
Texas A&M Transportation Institute and
Southwest Research Institute
Research Supervisor:
Melisa D. Finley, TTI
Researchers:
Kevin N. Balke, TTI
Rajat Rajbhandari, TTI
Susan T. Chrysler, TTI
Chiara Silvestri Dobrovolny, TTI
Nada D. Trout, TTI
Paul Avery, SwRI
David Vickers, SwRI
Cameron Mott, SwRI
Project Completed:
12-31-2015
What They Found
The motorist survey findings support the use of
the two wrong-way driver warning messages
shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, there was
some evidence that the abbreviation for vehicle
may be initially misunderstood. Therefore, the
alternative message should only be used for
DMSs with 15 characters per line.
Any time one of these messages is displayed on a
DMS, the beacons located on the DMS should be
activated. If the DMS does not have beacons, the
entire message may be flashed. Individual
message lines (e.g., WARNING) should never be
flashed. The location of the problem (i.e., ahead)
and non-specific driving actions (i.e., use caution,
watch for the wrong-way driver, and slow down)
are inferred from the two recommended
messages.
WARNING
WRONG WAY DRIVER
REPORTED
Although standard data elements are available
for use to generate wrong-way messages that
can be broadcast via RSAs, a need exists to
conduct human factors studies to determine
motorist needs, comprehension, and
interpretations of these data elements in a WWD
context.
What This Means
The research team recommends the
development of a proof-of-concept test bed
before implementing a model field deployment
of the system on an actual roadway in Texas. The
test bed would provide an offline location for the
research team and TxDOT to test and fine-tune
the system components and operations prior to
installing them on the open roadway. The
research team would use the lessons learned
from the deployment in the test bed
environment to determine the design
considerations for a model field deployment of
the system.
Figure 1. Recommended DMS Message.
WARNING
WRONG WAY VEH
REPORTED
Figure 2. Alternative 15-Character DMS Messages.
For More Information
Project Manager:
Darrin Jensen, TxDOT, (512) 416-4728
Research Supervisor:
Melisa D. Finley, TTI, (979) 845-7596
Technical reports when published are available at
http://library.ctr.utexas.edu.
Research and Technology Implementation Office
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701-2483
www.txdot.gov
Keyword: Research
This research was performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The contents of this report
reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented here. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official
view or policies of FHWA or TxDOT. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation, nor is it intended for construction, bidding, or permit
purposes. Trade names were used solely for information and not for product endorsement.