Local

First wrong-way driver alert system installed in central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 was the only station to get a look at new ifesaving technology that will be used to alert wrong-way drivers and help get them off the roads faster.

In the past few months, four people have died in two wrong-way crashes, including a mother and daughter.

The first wrong-way driver detection system in central Florida has been installed at the Beachline and State Road 520 in Wedgefield.

The new system consists of four warning signs that are tripped by a sensor if a driver is coming up the ramp the wrong way. Drivers are warned twice by the system.

Officials said Florida is the third state in terms of fatalities related to wrong-way driving.

University of Central Florida professor Haitham al-Deek and his students developed the system.

"They improved on it by changing the color from yellow to red, which will bring more attention to the drivers," al-Deek said of the students.

The system goes beyond just using flashing lights; Florida Highway Patrol is also alerted.

"If they don't stop, they are detected again by another radar," said al-Deek. "Another photo confirmation will be sent to the Traffic Management Center in a text alert. This way they can stop the driver before  an accident happens."

The location where officials installed the first system hasn't had a wrong-way crash, so Channel 9 asked why it was picked to test it.

"Sometimes if you have low traffic, that sometimes confuses a wrong-way driver because they think there is nobody there, so maybe this is an on-ramp," said al-Deek.

The Expressway Authority said it's just one of five systems that will be installed. The four others will be installed at ramps on SR-408 at Hiawassee and Kirkman roads. Those, however, won't be installed until engineers can collect a year's worth of data from the testing system.

Installing all five systems will cost the Expressway Authority less than $300,000, officials said.