What's being done to stop wrong way crashes in Michigan

Investigators are still piecing together evidence in the aftermath of a horrific wrong-way crash on Interstate 75 that left four people dead over the weekend.

In the aftermath of this accident, residents are concerned about wrong-way crashes in Detroit, according to WXYZ-TV.

Statistics from the Statewide Traffic Crash Data Year End Report shows that 420 accidents in 2023 were from drivers going the wrong way on a road and 19 of them led to someone being killed.

According to Michigan Auto Law a wrong way accident occurs when a driver goes against the legal flow of traffic and into oncoming vehicles, causing an accident. Wrong way driving can sometimes be attributed to drunken or drugged driving. It can also be caused by poor road design or a driver's unfamiliarity with the area.

• On Sunday, four people were killed: Four dead, one critical after an early morning wrong-way crash on I-75 in Royal Oak.
• In May, a man went the wrong way for 4 miles before being stopped by police: Wrong-way driver travels nearly 4 miles before police stop him on Telegraph Road
• In October 2023, a wrong-way driver was killed on a head on collision: Wrong-way driver killed in head-on collision on Lodge Freeway

These are a few of a collection of wrong-way crashes that have happened over the last few years the southeast Michigan region.

What's being done to prevent these crashes?

To stop wrong way crashes, state regulators are teaming up with law enforcement for solutions.

Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the city of Grand Rapids partnered to reduce the chances of wrong way driving by implementing detection systems along U.S.-131. When drivers go the wrong way on the freeway, lights flash, and cameras capture and alert authorities of a possible crash.

Over the last several years, MDOT has added reflective strips to signposts, painted curbed islands at ramp terminals and lowered signs to improve headlight angles, among other things.

But, specifically in southeast Michigan, MDOT is planning to develop long- and short-terms plans to curb accidents like this from happening, said Diane Cross, MDOT spokeswoman.

"Once MSP determines the cause behind the crash, this horrible crash will be one of the many that are studied by our traffic and safety engineers who look to see what might be able to be done short-term to keep this from happening and in the long-term for future designs," said Cross.

"MDOT continually tries to add signs and warnings to try and address wrong way crashes. There are some studies being done around the state to try different efforts to alert drivers that they may be going the wrong way."

What to do if a driver is heading straight at you

If you find yourself on the freeway with headlights in front of you, pull over to the shoulder and call 911 for assistance to be led off the freeway, Cross told the Free Press.

Drivers should also keep their headlights on, if the wrong way driver sees headlights, they might realize they're going the wrong way.