Introduction

It is difficult to understand how someone could end up driving in the wrong direction on the highway. However, 1 in 300 accidents involving personal injury or death is caused by a person driving in the wrong direction. Driving in the wrong direction is extremely dangerous and can lead to major accidents involving injuring or death.   The following report examines the characteristics and factors involved in wrong-way accidents and gives examples of safety measures to prevent and counteract such accidents on the highways.

Contents

1. Changes in the number of wrong-way accidents involving injury and death 2.1 Accidents according to age range 2.2 Accidents according to month 2.3 Accidents according to time of day 3.1 Wrong-way driving starting points 3.2 Circumstances involved in wrong-way driving 3.3 Circumstances involved at wrong-way driving starting points

Conclusion

The study found that the primary factors involved in wrong-way accidents can be divided into 4 major causes - 1) traffic violations, including intentional reckless driving and DUI, 2) inattention, including falling asleep at the wheel, carelessness, and absent-mindedness, and 3) impaired judgment, due to some physical illness such as dementia, and 4) insufficient knowledge of basic traffic rules and regulations, including not knowing how to use the highway. The study also found certain characteristics in common with regard to the driver's age and the wrong-way driving starting points.   Although the percentage of wrong-way accidents is low compared to the total accidents involving injury and death, a high percentage involve senior citizens, and this is a factor we need to be concerned about, considering the rapid aging of our society.   In order to prevent this kind of accident, we must not only improve road markings and signposts but also enhance driver awareness through improved driver education.

Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA)