Since 2013, the number of Americans killed each year in wrong-way crashes has increased more than 38 percent. Arizona is looking into a new way to combat those incidents: thermal cameras.
Arizona Testing Thermal Cameras to Catch Wrong-Way Drivers
Wrong-way accidents are 50 times more likely to be deadly compared to all vehicle crashes. Arizona is investing in high-tech solution that will instantly alert police and drivers when someone is driving the wrong way. As part of a $4 million pilot project, the state will be testing thermal cameras posted at off-ramps along a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 17. The cameras should be able to spot a wrong-way driver as soon as they enter the area.
Once the alarm is triggered at the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) operations center, it will alert police to the driver’s location. Additionally, electronic signs along the highway warn “wrong-way driver ahead, exit freeway.”
According to Col. Frank Milstead, who oversees Arizona’s highway patrol, it’s not just a wrong-way problem - it’s an impairment problem. He gets a call for at least one wrong-way driver every shift. “Sixty-five percent of the all those people that we stop and arrest for going the wrong way are impaired. It’s not a highway problem. It’s an impairment problem,” Milstead said.
Working with a Personal Injury Attorney After an Accident
If you have been a victim in a car, truck, pedestrian, or bicycle accident, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney that understands the specific laws around these types of accidents. They will be able to perform a full investigation and build your case. It’s crucial that you work with someone that knows the intricacies of the laws surrounding these types of cases as well as your specific state’s laws. The attorneys at Personal Injury Attorneys PLLC have experience handling personal injury cases such as car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. They will help build a case to ensure you receive everything you need to recover from your specific accident.
