Police Offer Background Information on Wrong Way Drivers

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, between 2000 and 2004 there were 87 reported crashes statewide involving a wrong way driver resulting in 11 fatalities and 83 injuries.

Fatal crash from the July 4th weekend in 2006 Photo: Oregon State Police

(ALBANY) - State Police in Oregon have a few thoughts they wanted to share with drivers in the wake of Sunday night's tragic crash involving a wrong way driver northbound on Interstate 5 in the Albany area. Police say the driver that caused the crash was intoxicated.

OSP's Greg Hastings says the following information may be help as it relates to the issue of wrong way drivers.

1. Statistics (most recent information)
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1.7% of fatal crashes involved a wrong way driver. (2003)
• According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, between 2000 and 2004 there were 87 reported crashes statewide involving a wrong way driver resulting in 11 fatalities and 83 injuries.
2. Who is the wrong way driver?
• Intoxicated driver
• Older drivers who easily get confused
• Intentional drivers (example - trying to avoid traffic jams / congestion caused by crashes)
• Inattentive drivers who mistake an off ramp for an on ramp
3. Wrong way drivers usually drive in the inside lane or inside shoulder, believing they are actually on a two-lane highway.
4. Most common types of wrong way driver involved crashes are head-on or sideswipe crashes.
5. Tips
   • Watch far ahead for signs of a possible wrong way driver, looking for signs similar to pending problems or developing emergency situations such as other traffic braking or swerving to avoid something, or the obvious - headlights coming in the opposite direction.
   • Caution against driving long periods in the inside lane on freeways, especially on curves.


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The Editor February 12, 2007 9:31 pm (Pacific time)

Allen, All fair questions. OSP did state that it was the most recent information available. I have been covering these types of crashes for many years, so I don't personally see a drastic increase, but that isn't to say you couldn't be right. Hopefully we can do some follow up on this, thanks for your thoughts.
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Allen February 12, 2007 7:03 pm (Pacific time)

It seems the frequency of head-on collisions involving drunken, wrong-way drivers has increased drastically in the last two years yet the study ends in 2004. Curious! Perhaps ODOT is short of funding and thus unable to report that data that I know they have gathered. It would also be interesting to learn how many of the drunken drivers had drivers licenses, insurance and if the vehicle was registered in their names. Call me Paul Harvey as I want to hear "the rest of the story."
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S. LaMarche February 12, 2007 5:15 pm (Pacific time)

how about NOT issuing a drivers liscense to people who use alcohol? They make you take a piss test to determine other drug abuse.,but you can buy this drug neatly packaged at a gas station!, care of the OLCC! You may remember the recent city councilnman from Ridgefield,Wash.?, stopping in for a few beers at a convienience store right after crashing into Two other cars on the freeway and evading the scene!. and he was caught by police getting back into his truck going somewhere else! I'm an A.A. "member" and not drinking hasn't hurt me or anyone else because of my drunken actons for more than Twenty years, and can't figure out the mystery here. To me it's simple; Don't Drink and Drive!
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Matt Johnson February 12, 2007 4:55 pm (Pacific time)

Thanks for providing good advice, we cal all use it.
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